The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has called on road construction companies, contractors, engineers and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination and adopt preventive measures to protect fibre-optic cables during road construction, rehabilitation and other civil works across the country.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the call on August 11, 2026, at a stakeholders’ workshop on the protection of fibre-optic cables held at the National Counter- Terrorism Centre, NCTC, Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.

He stressed that the nation’s drive to expand physical infrastructure must not undermine the digital infrastructure connecting Nigerians to information, services, markets and opportunities.

According to the EVC, communications infrastructure has become a critical national lifeline, underpinning banking, government services, education, healthcare, commerce, security and emergency communications.

He noted that damage to fibre infrastructure could disrupt essential services and impose significant costs on citizens and the wider economy.

“To a machine operator on a construction site, it may appear to be one buried cable. To the nation, it can mean failed calls, stalled payments, interrupted services and missed opportunities,” Maida said, highlighting the far-reaching impact of fibre cuts on individuals, businesses and public institutions.

“Our central message is simple: Nigeria must build the roads that connect our communities while protecting the fibre networks that connect our economy. We need both forms of infrastructure, and we need them to work together,” he said.

The EVC disclosed that more than 5,000 fibre-cut incidents were recorded in the first six months of the year because of road construction, excavation, and related civil works.

He recalled that in February 2024, fibre cuts, including those caused by road construction, resulted in an almost network-wide disruption for one telecommunications operator, affecting millions of users for several hours and placing additional pressure on other networks.

Maida said the challenge was not about assigning blame, noting that no road contractor deliberately seeks to disconnect a community, just as telecommunications operators do not intend to obstruct road construction.

However, he stressed the need for a dependable system of early coordination among all stakeholders.

He noted that the Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy had inaugurated the Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables to develop practical coordination mechanisms before, during and after road works.

He further disclosed that the committee’s membership had recently been expanded to include representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, in recognition of the security implications of protecting telecommunications infrastructure, which has been designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure.

He explained that the designation required telecommunications infrastructure to be treated as national infrastructure and protected accordingly, with appropriate legal, regulatory and remedial consequences for damage.

The EVC urged operators, contractors, government agencies, regulators and security agencies to play their respective roles in preventing fibre damage, stressing that coordination must become an integral part of the planning and execution of relevant projects.

“Nigeria must build the roads that connect our communities while protecting the fibre networks that connect our economy. We need both forms of infrastructure, and we need them to work together,” he said, urging participants to use the workshop to develop practical measures that would make coordination standard practice rather than the exception.

The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by the NCC and other stakeholders to institutionalise coordination mechanisms that will safeguard telecommunications infrastructure, minimise service disruptions and support Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, and is expected to culminate in a framework for the protection of telecommunications fibre optic infrastructure during road construction and other excavation activities.

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The partnership was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, at the NCC–REA Stakeholder Workshop held at the NCC Annex Office Auditorium, Mbora, Abuja, on Friday, July 24, 2026.

The workshop, themed “Unlocking the Energy–Telecoms Nexus for Scalable Digital Infrastructure in Nigeria,” brought together senior government officials, telecommunications operators, tower companies, renewable energy developers, financiers, development partners and other industry stakeholders to explore practical approaches to expanding connectivity through sustainable energy solutions.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, ECTS, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, described the collaboration as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive towards inclusive digital connectivity and energy access.

“Reliable electricity and digital connectivity are not two separate development goals. They are mutually reinforcing foundations of the same objective that produces an inclusive and productive economy,” he said.

He noted that reliable electricity and digital connectivity were mutually reinforcing foundations of an inclusive and productive economy, stressing that communities without stable power struggle to sustain telecommunications infrastructure, while those without connectivity were unable to fully benefit from electrification.

Oshadami explained that the partnership established a practical framework for aligning telecommunications and rural electrification programmes through coordinated planning, shared infrastructure, and renewable energy solutions.

He disclosed that the REA would provide geospatial data on existing and planned electrification projects, while the NCC would share information on existing and planned Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, deployments, enabling both institutions to jointly identify connectivity and energy gaps for more effective planning and implementation.

He further stated that the collaboration would explore opportunities to power telecommunications infrastructure, including base stations and fibre repeater sites, through REA’s off-grid renewable energy projects, while also encouraging the co-location of telecom infrastructure on REA-developed energy assets where technically feasible.

According to him the initiative will reduce deployment costs, improve operational efficiency and accelerate connectivity in underserved communities, the initiative will reduce deployment costs, improve operational efficiency and accelerate connectivity in underserved communities.

In his remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the REA, represented by the Executive Director, Technical Services, Engr. Umar Abdullahi Umar, observed that Nigeria’s digital economy depended on reliable energy infrastructure.

He noted that renewable energy mini grids provided a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to diesel-powered telecom sites and that the partnership would create commercially viable opportunities for telecom operators and renewable energy developers alike.

“Reliable power and universal connectivity are not competing priorities. They are the same priority, approached from two directions. Where we deliver them together, the cost of each falls and the reach of both extends,” he said.

The workshop featured presentations by the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee on geospatial analysis, pilot project opportunities and implementation strategies, alongside panel discussions on financing models, policy and regulatory issues, and infrastructure planning.

Oshadami urged stakeholders to move beyond broad expressions of support by identifying practical financing mechanisms, commercial models and regulatory measures capable of translating the initiative into sustainable, large-scale projects.

The MoU represents a significant step in strengthening collaboration between the NCC and the REA towards achieving the federal government’s digital economy and rural development objectives.

Through the partnership, both agencies aim to improve infrastructure planning, expand broadband connectivity, promote renewable energy adoption in telecommunications networks and deliver resilient, scalable and sustainable digital infrastructure that will drive socio-economic development across Nigeria.

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The Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the call during a courtesy and familiarisation visit by the newly elected leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to the commission’s Head Office, Friday in Abuja.

The EVC, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs Department, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, congratulated the newly elected NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, and members of the association’s executive council on their emergence while commending the smooth transition in the leadership of the student body.

Maida noted that the longstanding relationship between the NCC and NANS had continued to flourish because of mutual respect, dialogue and constructive engagement.

He expressed confidence that the current leadership would build on the achievements of its predecessors.

The EVC encouraged the student body to remain actively involved in the commission’s stakeholder engagement processes, particularly public consultations on regulatory and consumer-related initiatives, to ensure that the interests and perspectives of Nigerian students were adequately represented in policy development.

Speaking on challenges facing the telecommunications industry, Maida identified vandalism of telecommunications facilities, theft of fibre optic cables and network equipment, destruction of infrastructure, and right-of-way challenges as major factors affecting service delivery across the country.

He urged NANS to support ongoing awareness efforts by sensitising students on the importance of safeguarding telecommunications facilities located within and outside educational institutions.

“Telecommunications infrastructure remains the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy and plays a crucial role in learning, research, innovation and communication. Students can support national efforts aimed at protecting telecommunications infrastructure through awareness and responsible civic engagement,” he said.

The EVC also highlighted several initiatives being implemented by the commission to advance digital inclusion and create opportunities for young Nigerians.

The initiatives, he said, included the deployment of digital infrastructure through the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, establishment of Digital Parks in tertiary institutions across the country, and ongoing efforts to support digital learning and innovation.

“The commission is currently consulting stakeholders on a proposed framework that may enable access to certain approved educational platforms under specific conditions without data charges,” he said.

On consumer protection, Maida reiterated the NCC’s commitment to ensuring adequate protection of consumers under the regulatory framework while encouraging students to utilise consumer education resources available on the Commission’s website to better understand data management, consumer rights, and complaint resolution mechanisms.

Earlier, the president of NANS, Comrade Akinteye, expressed appreciation to the NCC for maintaining a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with the student body over the years, and commended the Commission for its openness to strengthening engagement between the commission and the student body through dialogue and mutual understanding.

He acknowledged the role of the NCC in fostering a culture of dialogue and stakeholder engagement, noting that the commission’s approach had continued to encourage the student body to pursue peaceful and responsible advocacy on national issues.

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In the latest Public Service Reforms Performance Assessment, the Commission was ranked third overall, following a comprehensive evaluation across key reform indicators, including the Self-Assessment Tool, SAT, Freedom of Information, FOI, Compliance Score, Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Index, and official website performance metrics.

In the ranking, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, and Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, came first and second, respectively.

The institutional ranking, conducted across all MDAs of the federal government, recognises MDAs that have distinguished themselves in advancing public service reforms and delivering excellence in service.

Aside from the institutional awards, 20 individuals across federal, state and local levels received various distinguished public service excellence and leadership awards, for their sterling performance in public service, including the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire, among others.

Representing the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, at the award ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, spoke on behalf of the NCC and other awardees present, expressing appreciation to the Bureau for sustaining the annual assessment framework.

“First; on behalf of all awardees, and second, on behalf of the Board, Management, and staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission, we thank the Bureau for these recognitions. For us at NCC, this recognition acknowledges our ongoing reform efforts and underscores the need to sustain them,” he stated.

He stated that the BPSR recognition served as a motivation for MDAs to strengthen their commitment to service delivery, noting that, for the NCC, the award also served as an affirmation that its reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the sector were yielding greater public acceptance and positive recognition.

“For our telecommunications consumers, this recognition reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen service quality, transparency, and responsiveness across the sector. The assessment outcome also reinforces the importance of maintaining standards that support improved customer experience and greater confidence in telecom services nationwide,” he said.

Oshadami restated the commission’s commitment to applying regulatory tools and innovative approaches towards supporting measurable improvements in service quality and consumer protection across Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

The commission has, over the past two years, introduced far-reaching reforms to promote transparency and accountability in the telecommunications sector.

These include the introduction of the National Coverage Map, which provides near real-time information on the performance and availability of operators’ networks across the country, as well as the publication of Quarterly Network Performance Reports, which provide detailed assessments of network performance nationwide.

Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, have also been directed to simplify the communication of their tariffs in a manner that is clear and easy for consumers to understand.

In addition, operators are required to comply with the updated Corporate Governance Guidelines, which emphasise stronger corporate accountability and improved operational performance.

The commission has also placed significant emphasis on the proactive publication of clear, comprehensive, and timely data on industry activities to keep the public well informed and enhance accountability across the telecommunications sector.

In his remarks, the Director-General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended all participating MDAs – particularly the top performers for 2026 broader assessment- for their efforts toward transparency, accountability, and open governance.

He noted that the values reflected consistency with established public service standards.

“This annual event, which begins with a public lecture and concludes with an award ceremony, marks the commemoration of the United Nations Public Service Day. It also highlights the role of the Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series and Awards as a platform for recognising MDAs that have demonstrated strong performance in reform implementation and service delivery,” he said.

The NCC was ranked the second-best-performing federal government agency in the 2025 website performance assessment by the BPSR.

This year’s evaluation was an expanded one, touching not only on official website performance metrics, but also on other parameters such as SAT, FOI Compliance Score, Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Index.

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The annual high-level forum is scheduled to hold this Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the prestigious Banquet Hall, Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos, anchoring its deliberations on the crucial theme: “Sustaining WSIS Vision with Multistakeholder Synergy in Nigeria.”

The Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, is set to deliver the Keynote Address, highlighting the regulatory framework required to preserve the World Summit on the Information Society, WSIS, vision through inclusive, multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Joining the regulatory commission in driving this momentum is IHS Nigeria, the nation’s premier digital infrastructure champion boasting a footprint of over 16,000 telecom towers and 15,000km of fiber optic cables across the country.

Alongside data center colocation leader Digital Realty, these organisations are heavily backing the forum as part of their commitment to promoting critical national infrastructure and securing Nigeria’s digital possibilities.

Speaking ahead of the event in Lagos, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, the Editor-in-Chief of host media organization, ITREALMS Media Group, commended the immense institutional support flowing from the public and private sectors.

“Achieving sustainable internet governance and digital trust requires an intentional alignment of regulation and infrastructure,” Nweke remarked. “The active collaboration of the NCC, IHS Nigeria, and Digital Realty ensures that the 2026 forum will move beyond mere dialogue to produce clear, actionable policy recommendations for our digital economy.”

The event will be presided over by Dr. Olusola Teniola, Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, ipNX Nigeria and former President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, who will deliver the chairman’s opening speech on the 2026 NDSF blueprint.

Earlier, leading telecommunications, technology, and internet governance stakeholders have thrown their weight behind the 17th milestone edition of the annual Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum, NDSF, on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), including ICT infrastructure leader MTN Nigeria; the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); premier software and DNS infrastructure firm Upperlink Limited; and the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), managers of the .NG country code Top Level Domain name.

Media & Event Contact: The Secretariat Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) / ITREALMS Media Group Banquet Hall, Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos Website: www.itrealms.com.ng

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Image shows (R-L) Philemon Zoo Zame, Director General, Telecommunications Regulatory Board, Republic of Cameroon, and Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, at the occasion.

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The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said this during the inauguration of the council in Lagos on Thursday.

He described the move as a defining moment in Nigeria’s digital evolution and readiness to lead in the next phase of the global internet.

Maida said Nigeria’s IPv6 adoption remained at about five per cent, far below the global average of over 40 per cent, noting that the country must act decisively to close the gap.

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the latest version of the internet protocol used to identify and connect devices on the internet, designed to address the limitations and address exhaustion challenges of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4).

He said the exhaustion of IPv4 resources, combined with the rapid expansion of 5G networks, Internet of Things, IoT, cloud services and artificial intelligence-driven applications had pushed legacy internet infrastructure to its limits.

“In this context, IPv6 is not optional; it is a strategic necessity for national competitiveness, security and economic sovereignty,” he said.

Maida noted that the transition required the coordinated efforts of regulators, telecom operators, enterprises, academia and government institutions, adding that no single stakeholder could drive the process alone.

He said the commission had been preparing for the transition through deliberate policies and partnerships.

Maida added that its partnerships included its collaboration with the African Network Information Centre, AFRINIC, which had supported capacity-building programmes across public and private sectors.

According to him, the council will drive alignment with a National IPv6 Deployment Strategy, which outlines clear, time-bound targets, including raising Nigeria’s adoption level to rank among Africa’s leading countries within the next three years.

He outlined key priorities for the council to include establishing a monitoring and reporting framework with quarterly updates and an annual national report.

Other priorities, the NCC boss said, included driving capacity building and certification of IPv6 engineers, and promoting public sector leadership through migration of government platforms to IPv6-enabled systems.

He said that other responsibilities included engaging industry players such as internet service providers, data centres, content providers and financial institutions to remove deployment barriers.

Maida noted that advising on policy incentives and regulatory frameworks to accelerate adoption are also responsibilities.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, IXPN, Muhammed Rudman, said the continued availability of IPv4 remained a major constraint, as many operators saw no immediate urgency to migrate.

He explained that while Nigeria had over 200 Autonomous System Numbers, ASNs, and more than 100 networks with IPv6 allocations, only a limited number were actively deploying and assigning IPv6 addresses to end users.

“In simple terms, many operators have IPv6 capability, but it is not yet deployed in a meaningful way,” he said.

Rudman said reliance on Network Address Translation, NAT, under IPv4 had allowed multiple users to share limited IP addresses, but created challenges in security, traceability and performance.

He added that the council had developed a National IPv6 Implementation Strategy with clear targets, including achieving at least 20 per cent IPv6 compliance in government networks by 2027, 25 per cent active deployment among telecom operators, and about 30 per cent nationwide adoption by 2030.

According to him, the council also plans to intensify capacity building, with a target to train at least 50 professionals in IPv6 by October through structured programmes and partnerships with academic institutions and regional bodies.

Rudman noted that funding and skills gaps remained challenges, especially as many trained engineers had migrated abroad, making continuous training essential.

He said the implementation roadmap would begin with awareness campaigns and training in 2026, followed by policy integration and accelerated deployment through 2027, leading to broader national adoption by 2030.

In his remarks, a technology expert, Chris Uwaje, said Nigeria must move beyond reliance on legacy systems and embrace modern internet infrastructure to strengthen its digital sovereignty.

Uwaje stressed that IPv6 adoption required not just technical upgrades but a national shift in mindset toward innovation, local capacity development and infrastructure investment.

Source: NAN

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The MoU was signed as NCC and CBN inaugurated a Joint Committee on Payment Systems and Consumer Protection and a Joint Committee on Telecoms Identity Risk Management System, TIRMS, Portal.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the MoU provided a structured framework for cooperation in critical areas including payment system integrity, fraud mitigation, digital inclusion, and the protection of consumers, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which he noted would translate into practical outcomes that strengthened trust, deepen inclusion, and support a secure and resilient digital economy.

Maida described the signing of the MoU as an important milestone in “the regulatory stewardship” of Nigeria’s digital economy, which reflects a shared commitment to collaboration in strengthening financial system stability, advancing digital inclusion, and protecting consumers in an increasingly interconnected ecosystem.

He said, “The Commission places significant importance on collaboration. Indeed, many of the critical milestones we have achieved in addressing some of our industry’s challenges—and even in leapfrogging our sector—have been made possible through strategic partnerships and sustained collaboration. Our collaboration with the Central Bank is not new.

“Over the years, our two institutions have demonstrated the value of close regulatory coordination. A notable and recent example is our collective effort in resolving the long-standing USSD debt impasse—an intervention that restored confidence, preserved service continuity, and safeguarded the interests of consumers, telecom operators, and financial institutions alike. That experience reaffirmed a simple truth: that complex, cross-sector challenges are best addressed through structured collaboration.

“This MoU provides a clear framework for cooperation in critical areas such as payment system integrity, consumer protection, fraud mitigation, and the responsible use of digital infrastructure. In particular, it supports initiatives that promote secure digital payments, enhance trust in mobile-enabled financial services, and extend safe access to underserved populations and MSMEs.

“For the NCC, this MoU speaks directly to one of the critical pillars of our strategic focus: leveraging cross-sectoral innovation to deliver a safe, resilient, inclusive and trusted digital ecosystem. As mobile numbers increasingly underpin identity, authentication, and financial access, collaboration with the CBN is essential to ensuring that innovation is matched with strong governance, system stability, and consumer safeguards,” Maida declared.

The EVC explained that the collaboration was designed “For the prevention of electronic fraud, which has become increasingly pervasive, with significant implications for the integrity of our digital economy. Through the Telecom Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) Portal—which aggregates data on churned (recycled) phone numbers, as well as numbers flagged within your sector—the Financial Services Industry will now have enhanced visibility into the status of phone numbers, one of the most widely utilized resources in your sector, although regulated by the NCC.

“This means that the Financial Institutions will be able to determine when a line is active, when it has been swapped, when it has been disconnected due to inactivity and reassigned to a new subscriber, and when it has been flagged for suspicious or fraudulent activity. This ensures that our financial services industry is better equipped with timely and relevant information to effectively combat e-fraud, particularly those perpetuated using phone numbers, in the country.

“The second area I want to highlight is an overarching one that both our institutions have consistently championed: it is the protection of Nigerian consumers. With this handshake, consumers who experience issues such as airtime recharges that do not deliver value can be assured of prompt resolution within the shortest possible time. The establishment of a platform for sustained engagement, coordinated policy responses, and joint action as new risks and opportunities emerge across the digital and financial landscape by this MoU, positions our two institutions to remain proactive, aligned, and effective in fulfilling our respective mandates,” the EVC stated.

CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, described the MoU as one that would strengthen coordination on approvals, technical standards, and innovation trials, including sandbox testing that supports market-led solutions while safeguarding stability.

He said, “Going forward, the Central Bank of Nigeria remains fully committed to working with the Nigerian Communications Commission to deliver a safer, more resilient, and more inclusive digital financial system—one that supports national productivity, protects consumers, and strengthens trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.”

Cardoso subsequently inaugurated the Joint Committee on Payment Systems and Consumer Protection and the Joint Committee on Telecoms Identity Risk Management System, TIRMS, Portal, which he said would put the protection of consumers of both sectors from fraud at the forefront.

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 There is a moment in every generation when a country gets the chance to make a decision that reshapes the trajectory of millions of lives. Nigeria is at that moment now, and the decision is simpler than most people think.

Zero-rate educational websites. Make learning data-free. Let’s do it now.

When ALTON paid me a courtesy visit recently at the NCC’s Ikoyi office, I used the occasion to issue a clear charge: telecom operators must prioritise the zero-rating of credible educational platforms as a near-term, high-impact intervention. The response was encouraging. But encouragement is a starting point. What Nigeria needs is coordinated action across government, regulators, operators, and state houses across the federation.

The NCC is ready to lead. I am honoured to drive this work, but the vision we are executing belongs to President Bola Tinubu. He set the direction. Our role is to ensure every Nigerian child feels its impact.

The cost of data is the cost of a future

For a student in Katsina, Ebonyi, or Ekiti, the barrier to online learning is rarely motivation or intelligence. It is arithmetic: data costs money, and many families do not have that money. Asking a child to buy data before accessing a textbook is the digital equivalent of charging school fees at the gate of a public school. We decided long ago that was wrong. We must now make the same decision about data.

Zero-rating means this precisely: telecom operators allow users to access designated educational websites and digital libraries without those visits counting against their data balance. No subscription. No bundle. Just access.

This is not a radical idea. It is already working elsewhere.

In 2016, South Africa worked with mobile operators to zero-rate critical educational websites, including platforms used by university students. The initiative emerged partly in response to the #FeesMustFall movement and measurably increased access to course materials among students in rural and peri-urban areas. India’s experience is instructive on both sides. When Jio arrived in 2016 with aggressively low data pricing, it triggered one of the most dramatic expansions of digital learning the world has seen. Hundreds of millions of Indians who had been priced out of the internet gained access overnight; EdTech platforms like BYJU’s, Unacademy, and Vedantu built entire businesses on the back of that newly connected population. When you lower the cost of access, you ignite an economy. India’s telecoms regulator TRAI did, however, ban Facebook’s Free Basics in 2016 precisely because it created differential access favouring particular commercial interests. Nigeria’s approach differs: our proposal is publicly governed, government-led, and built on transparent criteria. That distinction matters.

Rwanda offers the most instructive African model. Its Smart Classroom Programme worked with operators to zero-rate the Rwanda Education Board’s digital content in government schools, combined with teacher training and device provision. Rwanda today consistently ranks among Africa’s most competitive digital economies. Connectivity and education were the foundation.

The Awolowo generation built the future on free schools. The Tinubu generation will build it on free data. We have made our choice.

Awolowo’s lesson, and a President who already understands it

A friend, responding to my public charge to ALTON, described this initiative as “Awo’s free education policy in the digital age.” The framing is exactly right.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s decision to introduce free primary education in the Western Region in 1955 was opposed, debated, and dismissed as unaffordable. He pressed on. The results were generational. The West produced a workforce that drove Nigeria’s early post-independence economy and contributed disproportionately to its professional class for decades. The dividends of that single decision are still being collected today.

Zero-rating educational websites is the digital equivalent of that bet. Operators will absorb a portion of foregone revenue in the short term; comparable analyses from South Africa and Rwanda suggest this cost, when structured properly with government support, is manageable relative to the long-term subscriber base it creates. Those same young Nigerians, educated and empowered, return to those networks as paying subscribers.

This conversation did not start here, either. I remember a session we held during President Bola Tinubu’s journey to Aso Villa, where he spoke with obvious pride about the free WAEC and NECO policy he had implemented in Lagos, then shared his vision for student loans: access to tertiary education should not depend on family finances. What was then a proposal is now operational. Close to 2 million students are already benefiting from NELFUND. We also spoke that day about data costs as a barrier to learning. That conversation is now policy in motion. President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive education is evidenced in the free WAEC policy, in NELFUND, and in this initiative. Free data for learning is one of the most direct ways to give the Renewed Hope Agenda practical, daily meaning.

What we are asking, and what we will do

To Nigeria’s governors: in the coming weeks, I will be visiting Your Excellencies alongside Dr. Aminu Maida and other NCC board members to seek your partnership in something that can genuinely transform your states.

We will ask for your support in lowering entry barriers for operators deploying infrastructure in unserved communities. Right-of-Way costs are among the most significant obstacles to network expansion in Nigeria today. Where these fees are reduced or waived for deployments in low-connectivity areas, the effect is immediate. Connectivity does not only serve education; it opens commerce, attracts investment, and improves quality of life across every sector of a state’s economy. With it, a boy or girl in a remote village stands beside their contemporaries in any city in the world, accessing the same lectures and opportunities. We will also count on your support to protect existing and new infrastructure. Vandalism of telecoms assets is a real and costly problem, and strong state-level enforcement is a statement about what kind of future your state is committed to building.

To Engineer Gbenga Adebayo and the ALTON membership: the alignment we have reached is a foundation to build on. We see the pressures you are managing: elevated energy costs, forex pressure on equipment imports. The task we are making must be accompanied by reciprocal commitment from government, and we are prepared to deliver that. The NCC will work with operators to monitor traffic impacts and ensure capacity planning in underserved areas runs parallel to zero-rating rollout. We will work with the Federal Ministry of Education, state education boards, and civil society to identify credible platforms, publish the list, and zero-rate it under a transparent governance framework with clear eligibility criteria, a published review cycle, and an open entry pathway for Nigerian EdTech companies that meet the standard. We are also aware that zero-rated domains create VPN routing incentives; the NCC will work with ALTON on a shared enforcement approach so operators do not carry that burden alone.

To civil society and the private sector: this initiative needs champions beyond government and telecoms. Nigerian EdTech companies, development finance institutions, and corporate social responsibility programmes all have a role. Adopt a platform. Fund devices for a school. Sponsor a teacher training programme. Beyond infrastructure, every state has the opportunity to build something lasting: devices in schools, Wi-Fi in public libraries, and curated local content reflecting state languages, histories, and curricula. Zero-rated access to an empty platform helps no one. Access and content must grow together.

UNICEF and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimate that Nigeria has approximately 20 million out-of-school children. Millions more are in school but learning below their potential because resources that could help them sit behind a paywall called data. That is a crisis with a known, affordable solution. The question is no longer whether we can do this. The question is whether we will choose to.

As Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, I will continue to push for this with every platform available. We will engage operators formally on timelines and implementation frameworks, work with education counterparts to identify the right content, track progress, and report it publicly. Accountability is not optional here.

The Awolowo generation built the future on free schools. The Tinubu generation will build it on free data. We have made our choice.

*Olorunnimbe is the chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission.

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Picture shows, during the visit, (L-R), Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner Technical Services, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Tony Emoekpere, President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, ATCON; Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, NCC; Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, NCC; Muhammed Rudman, Vice President, ATCON/ CEO IXPN.

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