BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, has created a permanent forum meant to ensure that conversations about how the internet is run do not end when conferences do.
The Internet Governance Working Group was unveiled on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the first Internet Governance Symposium organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Lagos. It is intended to give interested parties an ongoing space to exchange views, agree on practical priorities and act in a coordinated way on matters shaping the country’s digital environment.
Abraham Oshadami, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, opened the event on behalf of the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Dr Aminu Maida.
He argued that choices about the internet go beyond technical and connectivity questions, telling the audience that they touch on opportunity, trust, security and the rights of users. For that reason, he said, Nigeria must take an active part in shaping the discussion.
Oshadami observed that the fast pace of artificial intelligence is altering the way people study, work, communicate and obtain services. At the same time, it is raising worries about harmful content, fraud, privacy, accountability and the safety of children. No single body, he said, can tackle such problems alone, so the communications sector and others must work together.
He pointed to two NCC instruments as part of the response. The Internet Code of Practice (ICOP) 2026 is meant to foster a safer and more responsible online space, though he noted that its impact depends on clear expectations, genuine engagement with stakeholders and steady implementation. The Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigeria Communication Sector (CRF-NCS) is aimed at making the infrastructure behind digital services more secure and resilient. Together, he said, they reflect a basic duty to let Nigerians use the internet with more confidence.
The Executive Commissioner asked attendees to speak frankly and constructively and to depart with a better grasp of what is expected of each of them, along with a common resolve to act.
He thanked participants and appealed for lasting cooperation toward a safer, more secure and responsible digital future for Nigeria.
