The Federal Government has directed agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to harmonise regulations governing internet platforms and online intermediaries in a bid to eliminate overlapping rules and create a more predictable digital regulatory environment.
The directive, announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, instructs regulators to maintain the existing regulatory framework while suspending the implementation of new cross-cutting regulations until a unified national policy is developed.
The decision followed a high-level meeting chaired by the minister with the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, and Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
According to Tijani, the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy has resulted in overlapping responsibilities among the three agencies, particularly in areas such as internet platform regulation, online intermediaries, artificial intelligence, online safety, and data governance.
He said stronger coordination was necessary to provide regulatory certainty, encourage innovation, attract investment, and enhance consumer confidence.
As part of the directive, the ministry ordered the agencies to suspend the implementation or enforcement of recently introduced regulations, guidelines, frameworks, and directives relating to internet platforms and other cross-cutting digital economy issues currently undergoing policy harmonisation.
However, the ministry clarified that regulations falling strictly within the legal mandates of each agency will remain valid and enforceable, provided they align with the government’s new policy direction.
To oversee the harmonisation process, the ministry has established a Joint Technical Coordination Committee comprising representatives from the NCC, NITDA, and NDPC under the supervision of the minister’s office.
The committee will engage industry stakeholders, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and other relevant groups to develop recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework.
The proposed framework is expected to clearly define the responsibilities of each regulator, eliminate unnecessary overlaps, reduce compliance burdens on businesses, strengthen investor confidence, and create a more transparent regulatory environment for Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
The move comes amid increasing concerns from technology companies and industry stakeholders over multiple regulatory requirements issued by different government agencies. Observers believe the new initiative will streamline digital governance, reduce compliance uncertainty, and promote a coordinated regulatory approach while supporting Nigeria’s ambition to become Africa’s leading digital economy
Source: The Guardian
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