Nigeria Advocates for Stronger African Telecom Influence

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Dr. Aminu Maida, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), called for a stronger African influence in global telecommunications policies at the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Preparatory Committee held in Abuja.

Maida emphasized that Africa's influence in global telecommunications should depend on the quality of technical expertise and coordination rather than the size of delegations. He urged member states to invest in sustained technical participation and to prepare coherent positions that reflect African realities.

The committee aims to draft resolutions for the upcoming 2026 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference, focusing on strategic directions for the continent's telecommunications body. Key issues identified include cross-border spectrum harmonization, artificial intelligence governance, data protection frameworks, and cybersecurity.

Maida reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to the ATU and the importance of collaborative dialogue among member states to enhance Africa's role in shaping global telecommunications standards.