The Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of all newly issued regulations, guidelines, and codes targeting internet platforms and digital intermediaries. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, issued the directive 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).

Under the new directive, these agencies will temporarily defer the enforcement of recently issued directives currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation. Minister Tijani explained that the rapid evolution of Nigeria’s digital economy has created areas where the responsibilities of sector regulators increasingly overlap. He noted that the convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety, and data governance now requires a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to policy development.

The Minister emphasized that maintaining the regulatory status quo is fundamental to preserving legal certainty for investors and operators while promoting innovation and consumer confidence. According to the Ministry, improved regulatory coordination will ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy. The freeze is specifically designed to eliminate compliance confusion for businesses operating within the country`s fast-growing tech ecosystem.

To ensure a smooth transition, the Ministry clarified that the directive does not diminish or affect the statutory responsibilities of the respective agencies. All other provisions of existing regulations and codes that fall squarely within the express mandates of the NCC, NITDA, and NDPC under extant laws remain fully operational. They must, however, align consistently with the overarching policy direction issued by the Minister.

As part of the implementation strategy, Dr. Tijani announced the immediate establishment of a joint technical coordination committee. This committee features representatives from the three regulatory bodies who are tasked with coordinating extensive stakeholder consultations. Their primary mandate is to develop actionable recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework moving forward.

Once finalized, this new framework will clearly define the specific boundaries and responsibilities of the NCC, NITDA, and NDPC. The government expects the joint framework to drastically reduce regulatory overlap, protect consumer rights, and provide a predictable environment for international tech investments. The Ministry reiterated that the ongoing exercise is strictly aimed at driving institutional synergy rather than stripping agencies of their legal powers.

This policy freeze comes less than 24 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to launch an investigation into major technology companies and generative artificial intelligence platforms. The presidential probe targets allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unauthorized exploitation of Nigerian media content. The newly formed harmonisation committee is expected to factor these pressing market challenges into their unified regulatory framework.