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| Photo shows l-r: Mr. Dewole Ajao, Board Member, African Network Information Centre; Mrs. Seyi Onasanya, Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA); Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC; Mrs. Mary Uduma, Coordinator, West Africa Internet Governance Forum; Mr. Tony Emoekpere, President Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Ms. Atinuke Ibrahim, Representing Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, (ALTON), during the NCC Internet Governance Symposium 2026, at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos October 15th 2026. |
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a new Internet Governance Working Group to drive coordinated action on online safety, artificial intelligence (AI) accountability, digital fraud, privacy and the protection of vulnerable users.
The initiative was unveiled on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in Lagos, at the Commission’s inaugural Internet Governance Symposium. It is designed to move internet governance beyond policy discussions into practical measures that improve trust, safety and inclusion in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Speaking on behalf of NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, said decisions about the internet affect more than networks and connectivity. According to him, they also shape economic opportunity, public trust, security and the rights of internet users.
“They affect opportunity, trust, security and the rights of the people who use it,” he said, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s active participation in internet governance discussions.
He noted that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence was changing how people learn, work, communicate and access services, while creating new concerns around harmful content, fraud, privacy, accountability and child protection. According to him, these challenges require cooperation across the communications sector and beyond, as no single institution can address them effectively in isolation.
In a press statement signed by Nnenna Ukoha, Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, the Executive Commissioner highlighted the NCC’s Internet Code of Practice (ICOP) 2026 as a framework for promoting a safer and more responsible online environment. He explained that its effectiveness would depend on clear expectations, meaningful stakeholder engagement and consistent implementation.
He also drew attention to the Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigeria Communication Sector (CRF-NCS), which seeks to strengthen the security and resilience of the infrastructure supporting digital services. He said both initiatives reflected a fundamental responsibility to ensure that Nigerians could use the internet with greater confidence.
A key highlight of the symposium was the formal launch of the Internet Governance Working Group, established to provide a continuing platform for stakeholder engagement beyond the event. The platform is expected to strengthen dialogue, identify practical priorities and encourage coordinated action on issues affecting Nigeria’s digital environment.
Oshadami urged participants to make their contributions candidly and constructively, encouraging them to leave the symposium with a clearer understanding of their respective responsibilities and a shared commitment to action. He expressed the Commission’s appreciation to participants and declared the inaugural NCC Internet Governance Symposium 2026 open, with a call for sustained cooperation towards a safer, more secure and responsible digital future for Nigeria.
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