By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Federal Government has suspended the implementation and enforcement of newly introduced regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy matters pending the development of a harmonised national policy framework.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, after 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).
Announcing the decision in a statement on Tuesday, Tijani said the agencies had been directed to maintain the existing regulatory framework while ongoing efforts to harmonise digital economy policies are concluded.
According to the minister, the agencies are to suspend the implementation or enforcement of recently introduced regulations, guidelines, codes, frameworks and directives relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other digital economy issues that are currently undergoing inter-agency policy alignment.
“The existing regulatory status quo shall be maintained with respect to matters relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation under the Ministry’s coordination,” the statement said.
It added that enforcement of any recently issued regulation, code, guideline, framework, directive or administrative requirement connected to internet platforms, online intermediaries or similar digital economy issues should be deferred where such provisions form part of the ongoing harmonisation exercise.
However, Tijani stressed that the directive does not suspend the statutory responsibilities of the affected regulatory agencies.
He explained that all existing regulations, guidelines and directives that fall within the legally established mandates of the respective agencies would remain in force, provided they align with the ministry’s current policy direction.
The minister noted that rapid technological advancement and the growing convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety and data governance have increasingly created overlapping responsibilities among regulators.
According to him, addressing such overlaps through coordinated policymaking is essential for regulatory clarity and long-term sector growth.
He said stronger regulatory coordination would provide greater certainty for investors and operators while encouraging innovation, consumer confidence and Nigeria’s competitiveness in the digital economy.
“Regulatory coordination is not only essential to preserving legal certainty but is also fundamental to promoting investment, innovation, consumer confidence and Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy,” Tijani said.
To facilitate the harmonisation process, the minister announced the establishment of a joint technical coordination committee comprising representatives of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC.
The committee has been tasked with coordinating stakeholder consultations and developing recommendations for a unified national policy and governance framework for Nigeria’s digital economy.
According to the ministry, the proposed framework will clearly define the responsibilities of the three agencies, eliminate regulatory overlaps, reduce compliance uncertainty, strengthen investor confidence and support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming Africa’s leading digital economy.
The ministry emphasised that the harmonisation exercise is intended to improve collaboration among regulators and not to diminish the legal mandates of any agency.
The latest directive comes less than 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu instructed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major technology companies and generative artificial intelligence platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the exploitation of Nigerian media content.
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