By Ifeoma Ben, LLM, MBA
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is pivotal to the success of the country’s digital economy agenda, serving as the infrastructural backbone for innovation, financial inclusion, and economic diversification. Guided by the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020–2030, the government has committed to leveraging digital technology to foster sustainable development, reduce unemployment, and improve service delivery. While significant gains have been made, persistent gaps and regulatory challenges demand urgent attention. These developments are also reshaping legal advisory needs across sectors, especially in technology and infrastructure law.
Infrastructure Expansion and Economic Contribution
Over the past decade, Nigeria has witnessed notable improvements in telecom infrastructure. The number of unconnected clusters, areas lacking network services, was reduced by 57.97% between 2013 and 2024, highlighting targeted interventions in underserved regions. This progress has supported increasing mobile and broadband penetration, critical for expanding digital literacy and access to digital services across Nigeria.
The telecom sector’s economic footprint is equally significant. In 2024, the industry contributed over 16% to Nigeria’s GDP, underpinning growth in adjacent sectors such as fintech, healthtech, agritech, and e-commerce. Furthermore, the rise of digital platforms and services has increased demand for mobile data, cloud computing, and digital identity solutions, thereby reinforcing the sector’s centrality in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.
Infrastructure Deficits and Regulatory Bottlenecks
Despite this progress, major gaps remain. Broadband penetration, although improving, still lags behind global averages. Many rural areas lack last-mile connectivity due to limited infrastructure, high deployment costs, and inadequate power supply. Regulatory uncertainty, including slow licensing processes and overlapping mandates among agencies (e.g., NCC, NITDA, and NOTAP), continues to discourage investment.
Moreover, right-of-way charges imposed by some state governments and vandalism of telecom infrastructure pose significant setbacks to network expansion. While initiatives like the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) InfraCo project and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) aim to address some of these issues, implementation inconsistencies and funding constraints have slowed impact.
Evolving Demands and Opportunities
The evolution of Nigeria’s telecom sector has created a dynamic legal environment, especially in areas of infrastructure financing, data protection, cybersecurity, and public-private partnerships. Lawyers must now advise on complex regulatory compliance issues involving multiple agencies, particularly in broadband rollout, licensing, and cross-border data flow.
The growth of digital infrastructure has also heightened demand for legal expertise in drafting and negotiating contracts for infrastructure sharing, fiber deployment, and tower leasing. Telecom operators are increasingly seeking legal support on issues such as intellectual property for proprietary tech solutions, ESG compliance related to sustainable infrastructure, and dispute resolution around interconnectivity and service delivery.
In addition, as Nigeria’s digital economy expands, lawyers are playing a crucial role in shaping policies and legal frameworks on emerging issues such as 5G, satellite internet regulation, and digital taxation. Legal practitioners who stay ahead of telecom regulatory trends will be better positioned to advise tech startups, multinational investors, and governments on digital economy compliance and innovation strategies.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s telecom sector has made meaningful progress in driving the digital economy agenda, but critical infrastructure, policy, and regulatory gaps remain. Addressing these issues requires cohesive efforts from the public and private sectors, including legal professionals who are now key stakeholders in shaping and supporting Nigeria’s digital future.
As the telecom sector continues to evolve, legal practitioners must adapt by expanding their expertise in telecom law, digital infrastructure, public policy, and innovation governance. Only through such integrated efforts can Nigeria fully harness the transformative power of telecoms to unlock its digital economy potential.
Ifeoma Ben is a Partner at The Law Suite and the Editor-in-Chief of Lawhauz Magazine and can be reached on 08033754299
