By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for stronger collaboration among African telecommunications regulators to advance data-driven and evidence-based regulation aimed at accelerating digital transformation and economic growth across the continent.
Speaking at the Heads of Regulators Roundtable during the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said communications regulation has become a critical driver of Africa’s economic development, digital inclusion and national progress.
Maida noted that while regulatory authorities across Africa operate under different legal and market environments, they face similar challenges, including infrastructure expansion, cybersecurity, affordability of services, satellite communications, network resilience and the growing impact of artificial intelligence.
He stressed that closer cooperation among regulators would enable them to share experiences, exchange best practices and develop common solutions to emerging regulatory challenges.
“Very often, the challenge one regulator is trying to solve has already been encountered, in one form or another, by a colleague elsewhere on the continent,” he said.
According to him, the conference theme, “Building Africa’s Network Intelligence Ecosystem for Evidence-Based Regulation,” reflects the urgent need for regulators to leverage data, market intelligence and shared knowledge to improve regulatory decision-making and strengthen digital governance across Africa.
Maida emphasized that a more structured approach to knowledge-sharing among regulators would enhance institutional capacity and promote more effective, responsive and future-ready regulatory frameworks.
Chairing the roundtable, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, observed that rapid advances in broadband expansion, satellite services, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital public infrastructure are transforming Africa’s communications landscape and demanding more innovative regulatory approaches.
She said although regulators now have access to unprecedented volumes of technical, market and consumer data, the real challenge lies in converting that information into actionable intelligence capable of delivering better policy and regulatory outcomes.
Makama added that strengthening collaboration among African regulators would improve evidence-based decision-making, encourage innovation and ensure that regulatory frameworks remain responsive to evolving technologies and consumer needs.
The Heads of Regulators Roundtable is part of broader efforts by African communications regulators to deepen regional cooperation, promote evidence-based regulation and build resilient, inclusive and consumer-focused digital ecosystems capable of supporting sustainable development across the continent.
