Nigeria’s telecom industry is embracing artificial intelligence, but the policies meant to guide its use are not keeping pace. Findings presented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at its Internet Governance Symposium in Lagos indicate that 27% of surveyed licensees lacked AI governance arrangements, even as 73% were using or piloting the technology in live operations.
Dr Ibiso Kingsley-George, head of the NCC’s Internet Governance Unit, presented results from a survey of 47 organisations across industry, academia, research institutions and civil society. Since respondents represented a broad group of stakeholders, the figures are not a census of every telecom operator in Nigeria. They nevertheless raise questions about how providers will manage AI as it becomes embedded in digital services.
Only 39% of respondents had an approved AI policy, while 34% had human oversight for AI-supported decisions. Some 49% reported conducting risk or impact assessments. Meanwhile, 53% were unsure what qualifies as an AI system, a gap that could make it harder to know when governance procedures or regulatory notifications apply, according to reporting on the NCC presentation.
For customers, governance is not abstract. It can determine whether someone knows an automated system is handling a complaint, whether a decision can be challenged, and who is responsible when AI-supported services fail. Ninety-four per cent of respondents said consumers should be informed when interacting with AI, signalling broad support for transparency, Vanguard reported.
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NCC prepares clearer compliance support
The Commission plans to give operators implementation guidance, frequently asked questions, reporting templates and workshops. The support is intended to explain what the Internet Code of Practice 2026 requires and how different licensees can comply.
Industry stakeholders asked for clearer expectations and practical, step-by-step instructions. Some preferred periodic reports on AI deployment rather than notifying the regulator before every deployment, a position reported by 40% of respondents. The distinction matters because regulators must balance oversight with operational needs and the pace of technological change.
The NCC has also launched an Internet Governance Working Group to sustain dialogue among industry, government, academia, technical communities and civil society. This matters because the risks extend beyond AI to cybersecurity, online safety, child protection, data privacy and cross-border data transfers. According to BusinessDay, 46 of the 47 participating organisations expressed interest in future consultations, giving the group a base for continued engagement.
Back story
The findings come as the NCC works to implement its Internet Code of Practice 2026, which sets expectations for responsible internet services, including transparency, online safety and data protection. The Code appears among the Commission’s published guidelines. A related Cyber Resilience Framework for Nigeria’s Communications Sector is designed to strengthen the industry’s ability to manage cyber risks and service disruption.
The challenge is to make AI useful without exposing customers to unclear decisions or weak accountability. AI can improve network planning, customer support and operational efficiency, but adoption alone does not amount to responsible deployment. Internal policies, human review, risk assessments and clear reporting processes must be built into rollouts, not added after problems emerge.
The survey does not establish that every Nigerian telecom company lacks safeguards. Its figures reflect participating organisations, not the entire sector. However, the findings give the regulator a baseline from which to press for clearer practices. The next test is whether the promised guidance helps operators turn awareness into consistent compliance, and whether customers get greater transparency as AI becomes more influential in the services they use.
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