Network Policy The Nigerian government is aware of the amazing opportunities that the Internet presently offers and the prospects it provides. In the Nigerian National Policy on Telecommunication it states that the government endorses and will work to promote the development of infrastructure, services, and content for the Internet. Presently, there has not been much development done in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria since the creation of NITEL in 1985. Nigeria has a public network of roughly 700,000 lines of which around 400,000 are actually connected. In comparison to the rest of the continent, some countries of which may be considered less able, Nigeria is still lagging. To address these shortcomings, deregulation of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria began with the creation of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 1992. According to Nigeria's National Policy on Telecommunication, the NCC's main objectives include:

  • Creating a regulatory environment to facilitate the supply of telecommunications services and facilities
  • Facilitating the entry of private entrepreneurs into the telecommunications market
  • Promoting fair competition and efficient market conduct among all players in the industry


Currently, there are a wide variety of telecommunications services offered in the country of Nigeria including:

  • Telephony
  • Cellular Mobile Telephony
  • Facsimile
  • Radio/Television Carrier
  • Data Communications
  • Business Network Services
  • Computer Networking
  • Internet Services
  • High Speed Data Transmission
  • Among others


The Nigerian National Policy of Telecommunication states its overriding objective is to "achieve the modernization and rapid expansion of the telecommunications network and services." The policy states that this will "enhance national economic and social development, and integrate Nigeria internally as well as into the global telecommunications environment." The Nigerian telecommunications policy explains that telecommunications services should be efficient, affordable, reliable, and available to all. The policy goes on to state several short-term and medium-term goals that have been set forth by the country in order to achieve the overriding objective of expansion in telecommunications. As previously stated, the NCC will act as a regulator for the telecommunications industry. The NCC has the power to issue licenses, assign frequencies, and regulate all telecommunications licensees and service providers. The NCC is responsible for making the decisions impartially and to let the overriding objectives outlined but the Nigerian National Policy on Telecommunication guide its decisions along with fairness, equity, and transparency. The NCC has the responsibility to not allow the Government or anyone or any company in the private industry effect licenses, frequencies, etc.

The Nigerian National Policy on Telecommunications lists objectives and policies, and outlines services and practices (via regulations) that aid in promoting the Federal Government of Nigeria in:

  • Promoting the deployment and utilization of telecommunications infrastructure and services;
  • Accelerating the socio-economic and political development of the nation; and
    Enhancing the quality of life of the Nigerian citizenry

According to the policy, "The Federal Government of Nigeria is confident that if the policy is implemented, its citizens will reap the benefits of improved and affordable telecommunications as the engine of growth of the national economy."