Judiciary crucial to telecoms’ sector growth – AGF Fagbemi
Omeiza Bilal
Attorney-General of The Federation & Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said the judiciary will play a critical role in the in the regulation of Nigeria’s communications sector.
The AGF, who said this at the workshop for Attorneys-General of States in Lagos recently, added that the telecoms sector has the potential to transform the country’s socio-economic development.
In his keynote address on the theme: “Building and Driving Synergy in Regulating Communications for Digital Transformation in Nigeria”, said multiple taxation, wanton destruction of telecommunications infrastructure, regulatory overlaps, and slow broadband infrastructure roll-out continues to pose a challenge to the sectors growth.
He said, “Specifically, certain unfortunate incidents have been recorded such as the Ogun State Multiple taxation incident in 2024 which saw the temporary suspension of expansion projects as a result of overlapping local government levies, as well as vandalization of base stations in Kano in 2023. These incidents constitute economic sabotage, negatively impact the development of the communications sector and hinder digital transformation in the country.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is therefore critical that the three arms of Government, as stakeholders cooperate and collaborate to address these issues and ensure improved regulation of the communications sector for enhanced socio-economic development. The legislature must review and strengthen laws that protect infrastructure and support the communications sector, while the executive reinforces measures aimed at implementing these laws. The judiciary is also a key stakeholder in ensuring offenders and saboteurs are made to face the full wrath of the law.
“These measures are not only to be adopted at the Federal level. State governments also play key roles. Through institutional and governmental cooperation, we can eliminate some of these challenges, such as in 2023 when Anambra State proactively adopted a unified right-of-way policy, resulting in a 38% increase in fibre optic expansion within 6months. Proactive measures like these are laudable and I encourage all stakeholders to support the developmental efforts of the Nigerian Communications Commission.”
To address these challenges, Fagbemi said, State AGF’s must drive the collaboration by the various stakeholders.
“I therefore wish to recommend that stakeholders work towards adopting strategies and mechanisms that enhance synergy in regulating communications for the digital transformation in Nigeria. These include legal and policy harmonization, creation of a Federal-State regulatory coordination forum, adopting uniform Right of Way (ROW) Policy Implementation, joint enforcement of laws that protect infrastructure and consolidation of digital taxation framework.
“Attorneys-General as Chief Law Officers under the constitution are uniquely placed to drive synergy. We must be able to advise our respective governments on policies that affect the digital economy, ensure that our laws and enforcement actions are constitutionally sound and support dispute resolution mechanisms that prevent prolonged litigation. We must also work to champion data privacy, cyber security and digital rights enforcement at the State level,” he explained.
In his opening remarks, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, insisted that there was a need to tackle the challenges bedeviling the sector if it is to unlock its potentials.
“This is where your role, as Attorneys-General, becomes critical. You are not only the Chief Law Officers of your states; you are also policy influencers and key partners in shaping the legal frameworks that support national development.
“We believe the Attorneys-General have a strategic role to play—not just in interpreting the law, but in shaping an enabling legal environment were technology and governance work in tandem,” the EVC said.
