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Introduction
On the 7 July, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (the “Ministry”) directed its agencies that the regulatory status quo be maintained on matters relating to the regulation of internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues, pending the development of a harmonised national policy and governance framework. The impacted agencies are Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NPDC). This is partly in recognition of the fact that the convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety and data governance requires a coordinated whole-of-government approach to policy development and implementation. This in our view, is a good step in the right direction and essential need to promoting investment, innovation, consumer confidence and Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy.
9 July 26
Other Insights:
In recent times, the NCC issued Internet Code of Practice (the “NCC Code”), which seeks to expand its regulatory oversight on online platforms. In 2022, the NITDA issued the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries (the “NITDA Code”). The NDPC in the NDP Act-GAID makes provision specifically governing software and other emerging technologies, and has recently been making effort to develop frameworks for governing certain internet platforms providers. The Ministry’s intervention is coming at a point where the long-awaited convergence is very crucial to the digital economy.
In this piece, we have briefly highlighted the key policy directives, our comments and consideration for the impacted entities, in respect of this directive by the Ministry
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Should you have any questions on this legal alert, please do not hesitate to contact Sumbo Akintola.