The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has established a permanent Internet Governance Working Group after a survey found that only two of 19 licensees assessed were fully prepared to implement the 2026 Internet Code of Practice (ICOP).
The commission launched the group on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during its inaugural Internet Governance Symposium in Lagos, to provide a continuing platform for stakeholders to discuss internet regulation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and online safety.
According to a report published by Vanguard on October 15, nine licensees reported partial readiness to implement the code, while five said they were not prepared. The published figures account for 16 of the 19 licensees assessed, leaving the readiness status of three unspecified.
Presenting the survey findings, Dr Ibiso Kingsley-George, the NCC’s Head of Internet Governance, said licensees needed clearer implementation requirements, practical guidance and reporting templates to prepare for compliance.
A report by The Whistler published on October 16 said the commission planned to issue implementation guidelines and frequently asked questions, alongside workshops to support licensees that were not yet ready.
The survey also highlighted gaps in artificial intelligence governance despite growing adoption of the technology.
According to BusinessDay in a report published on October 15, 73% of respondents were using or piloting AI, but only 39% had an approved AI policy. Just 34% applied human oversight to their AI activities.
The survey received 47 responses from industry, academia and civil society, including seven mobile network operators and five internet service providers, according to Vanguard.
Participation in internet governance activities was another area of concern. About 53% of respondents had participated in the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum, while 40% had never attended an internet governance event, Vanguard reported.
Respondents cited low awareness, the absence of an internal mandate and the perception that internet governance was unrelated to their business operations as reasons for limited participation.
Speaking at the symposium, Abraham Oshadami, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, who represented Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida, said internet governance decisions affected economic opportunities, trust, security and users’ rights.
In a report published on October 16, ThisDay reported that Oshadami also highlighted the Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigeria Communication Sector, which requires operators to strengthen the security and resilience of their infrastructure.
The NCC identified cybersecurity, online safety and child protection, data protection and cross-border data flows, and AI governance as key internet governance priorities for 2026 and 2027.
The new working group is expected to strengthen stakeholder participation and help translate discussions into practical measures for safer and more responsible internet use.
For telecommunications licensees, the initiative signals a stronger focus on implementation, as the regulator seeks to address gaps in preparedness, accountability and compliance with its internet governance requirements.
