The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to defer the implementation or enforcement of their regulations concerning internet platforms, online intermediaries, or other cross-cutting digital economy matters. This directive will remain in effect pending the conclusion of the Ministry’s policy harmonisation exercise.
The Minister issued the directive on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, following a high-level strategic meeting with the leadership of the respective agencies. The statement, made available to Nairametrics, highlighted the intersecting statutory responsibilities of sector regulators in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Minister Tijani emphasized that while each institution has clearly defined mandates, the convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety, and data governance necessitates a coordinated whole-of-government approach to policy development and implementation. He stressed that regulatory coordination is crucial for preserving legal certainty, promoting investment, innovation, consumer confidence, and Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy.
Following deliberations, the Minister issued several policy directives. The existing regulatory status quo will be maintained for 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 related to these areas, to the extent that such provisions concern matters undergoing policy harmonisation. However, all other provisions of existing regulations, guidelines, codes, and directives that fall squarely within the express mandates of the relevant agencies under extant laws will remain fully operational and enforceable, provided they are consistent with the Minister’s policy direction.
The Ministry will establish a Joint Technical Coordination Committee, comprising representatives from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the National Information Technology Development Agency, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. This committee, under the leadership of the Office of the Honourable Minister, will coordinate technical engagements and undertake broad consultations with industry, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders.
The committee’s mandate includes developing recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework. The Ministry clarified that the objective is not to diminish the statutory mandates of any institution, but to ensure a coherent government voice on cross-cutting digital economy issues through a coordinated, predictable, and future-ready regulatory framework.
The Minister affirmed that the Ministry will collaborate with all relevant institutions and stakeholders to develop aligned policies that protect citizens, foster innovation, strengthen digital trust, and position Nigeria for sustained leadership in the global digital economy.
This development comes less than 24 hours after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) announced a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This directive orders an investigation into major global technology companies and generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms operating in Nigeria, including Meta, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), and X (formerly Twitter), over allegations of anti-competitive practices and exploitation of news content belonging to Nigerian media organizations. The directive was conveyed to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
