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, Nigerian Communications Commission (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 the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), during the NCC Internet Governance Symposium 2026, at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, October 15th 2026.
Paulette Orjime, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a specialized working group to combat escalating digital threats, calling for an industry-wide alliance to tackle artificial intelligence (AI) risks, online fraud, and privacy breaches.
The appeal came during the maiden NCC Internet Governance Symposium in Lagos, where the Commission pushed for actionable frameworks to tackle rising digital safety and artificial intelligence challenges.
Speaking at the inaugural NCC Internet Governance Symposium in Lagos, regulators warned that protecting vulnerable internet users from emerging cyber dangers requires collective action rather than isolated institutional efforts.
The Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, who delivered the opening address on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, said decisions about the internet extend beyond technology and connectivity.
“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 added 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.
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.
Declaring the inaugural NCC Internet Governance Symposium 2026 open, Oshadami called for sustained cooperation among all stakeholders. He urged participants to contribute candidly and leave with a shared commitment to building a safer, more secure digital future for Nigeria.
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