FG Suspends New Digital Regulations as It Works on Unified Policy

The Federal Government (FG) has directed regulators in Nigeria’s digital economy to suspend the implementation of new regulations affecting internet platforms and online intermediaries while it develops a single national policy and governance framework for the sector.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced the decision in a statement issued on Tuesday after a high-level meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

According to the minister, the rapid growth of Nigeria’s digital economy has created areas where the responsibilities of regulators now overlap.

He said that although each agency has a clearly defined legal mandate, issues involving telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety and data governance now require a coordinated government approach.

Tijani said better coordination would provide legal certainty, encourage investment, support innovation, strengthen consumer confidence and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy.

He directed that the current regulatory position should remain in place while the harmonisation exercise continues.

“The existing regulatory status quo shall be maintained with respect to matters relating to Internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation under the Ministry’s coordination.

“Relevant agencies are to defer the implementation or enforcement of any recently issued regulation, code, guideline, framework, directive or administrative requirement relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries or other cross-cutting digital economy matters.”

The minister clarified that the directive does not remove the statutory powers of the agencies. He said all existing regulations and directives that fall within their legal mandates will remain in force, provided they are consistent with the ministry’s policy direction.

As part of the exercise, the ministry will establish a Joint Technical Coordination Committee made up of representatives from the NCC, NITDA and NDPC.

The committee, led by the Office of the Minister, will coordinate technical discussions, consult industry players, civil society groups, academic institutions and other stakeholders, and prepare recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework.

Tijani said the exercise is not intended to reduce the responsibilities of any regulator but to ensure government adopts a consistent approach to cross-cutting digital economy issues.

He added that the proposed framework will clearly define the responsibilities of each institution, reduce regulatory overlap, remove compliance uncertainty, strengthen investor confidence and promote innovation.

According to him, the framework will also support Nigeria’s ambition to become Africa’s leading digital economy and a globally competitive destination for digital investment.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had authorised an investigation into global technology companies and generative artificial intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the use of news content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.

The FCCPC said the investigation will cover companies including Meta, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, X, formerly Twitter, and other generative AI platforms operating in the country.

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