The Federal Government has suspended the enforcement of newly introduced regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting issues within Nigeria’s digital economy, pending the completion of a nationwide policy review.
The directive was announced by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, following a strategic 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 decision is intended to preserve the current regulatory framework while the government develops a harmonised national policy and governance structure for the digital economy.
Dr. Tijani explained that the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital sector has led to overlapping responsibilities among regulatory agencies, making stronger collaboration necessary to provide legal clarity, encourage investment, promote innovation and strengthen consumer confidence.
As part of the directive, the affected agencies have been instructed to postpone the implementation or enforcement of any recently introduced regulation, code, guideline, framework, directive or administrative requirement relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other digital economy matters currently undergoing policy harmonisation.
The Minister stated that the existing regulatory position will remain in place for all issues covered by the ongoing review coordinated by the Ministry.
He added that while implementation of the affected regulations has been suspended, the decision does not override the statutory responsibilities of the agencies involved. Existing laws, regulations, guidelines and directives that fall within the legal mandates of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC will continue to be enforced, provided they align with the Ministry’s policy direction.
Dr. Tijani also announced the creation of a Joint Technical Coordination Committee, made up of representatives from the NCC, NITDA and NDPC, to operate under the Office of the Minister and support the ongoing policy harmonisation process.
