National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified efforts to foster a more enabling environment for innovation by inaugurating a Technical Working Group (TWG) aimed at strengthening regulatory collaboration and advancing a coordinated sandbox framework for Nigeria’s digital economy.

Group photograph of the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, with the newly inaugurated members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the National Regulatory Sandbox, at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, emphasised the critical need for stronger cross-agency cooperation to address structural regulatory challenges that often hinder the pace of innovation.

Inuwa noted that members of the Technical Working Group were deliberately selected based on their strategic institutional roles and capacity to contribute practical solutions tailored to the evolving realities of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

He explained that while regulatory agencies have legitimate and clearly defined mandates, the increasing complexity of digital technologies requires greater institutional alignment and collaboration to ensure regulatory frameworks support, rather than constrain, innovation.

“As government institutions, our core responsibility is to provide solutions to the challenges faced by Nigerians. The issue is not a lack of commitment, but a structural one. Regulators often operate in silos while implementing their mandates, and in today’s digital environment, that model presents significant limitations,” he said.

The NITDA Director General observed that the rapid expansion of the digital economy continues to outpace conventional regulatory systems, creating gaps that can inadvertently delay or obstruct the deployment of innovative solutions capable of improving livelihoods and driving national development.

To address these challenges, he said the Agency is championing a multi-agency regulatory framework designed to bring regulators together, foster understanding of overlapping mandates, and collectively develop adaptive mechanisms that create room for innovation while maintaining effective oversight.

Central to this strategy, Inuwa explained, is the adoption of regulatory sandboxes—controlled environments where innovators can test emerging technologies and solutions under the supervision and guidance of relevant regulatory authorities.

“Our guiding principle is that we learn by doing. Through these sandboxes, regulators can contribute to building safe spaces where innovation can be nurtured, tested, and scaled for the benefit of Nigerians,” he added.

He further reassured stakeholders that the initiative is not intended to weaken or override any agency’s statutory powers, but rather to improve coordination and build a more responsive regulatory ecosystem capable of keeping pace with technological advancement.

According to him, stronger inter-agency collaboration is essential to ensuring that Nigeria remains competitive in the global digital economy and fully harnesses innovation as a driver of inclusive economic growth and national prosperity.

Inuwa expressed optimism that the Technical Working Group would serve as a strategic platform for shaping forward-looking regulatory solutions while advancing NITDA’s broader vision of repositioning the Agency as an ecosystem orchestrator committed to enabling digital transformation and sustainable national development.

Presenting an overview of the National Regulatory Sandbox, the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Victoria Fabunmi, said the initiative is designed to provide a structured, legal, and multi-agency framework that enables innovators to test emerging technologies under regulatory supervision before obtaining full market approval.

According to her, despite rapid advancements across sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, fintech, health technology, and blockchain, innovators continue to face significant challenges due to siloed regulations, fragmented approval processes, and the absence of coordinated mechanisms for testing new technologies.

Fabunmi noted that while Nigeria’s digital economy continues to witness remarkable growth, the lack of harmonised regulatory engagement has often delayed innovation and increased uncertainty for startups and technology-driven enterprises.

Describing the National Regulatory Sandbox as more than just a digital platform, she explained that it is fundamentally a governance and legal framework aimed at creating an enabling environment where innovation can thrive responsibly.

Unlike traditional sandbox models often associated primarily with financial services regulation, Fabunmi said Nigeria’s approach is intentionally sector-agnostic, allowing regulators from multiple sectors—including agriculture, digital health, mobility, clean energy, and digital public infrastructure—to collaborate in supporting innovative solutions.

Under the framework, startups and innovators will be able to engage multiple regulators simultaneously within a controlled testing environment, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and significantly shortening time-to-market for emerging solutions.

She added that the sandbox will also generate shared, evidence-based regulatory insights, enabling participating agencies to make informed decisions collectively and develop adaptive policies that support responsible innovation.

The inauguration of the Technical Working Group marks another significant step in NITDA’s efforts to build a more agile, collaborative, and innovation-friendly regulatory environment—one that aligns with Nigeria’s broader ambition of becoming a leading digital economy in Africa.

Airtel Africa Plc has announced a strategic initiative in partnership with Barclays Capital Securities Limited to execute on-market share purchases totaling up to $110 million.

This initiative will be divided into non-discretionary and discretionary segments, marking a proactive step in optimizing the company’s capital structure and enhancing shareholder value.

In a statement released on the Nigerian Exchange and signed by Simon O’Hara, group company secretary, Airtel Africa described this share buyback program as a key component of its broader strategy to return cash to shareholders.

It noted that the program aims to repurchase up to one percent of the company’s issued share capital as of the date of this announcement.

“This decision by the Board reflects the organization’s strong financial position and its commitment to maintaining flexibility while continuing to invest for growth across its markets.

“The initial phase of the program will see Airtel Africa collaborating with Barclays Capital Securities to facilitate the purchase of its ordinary shares,” the statement noted.

According to Airtel Africa, the agreement features two key components operating concurrently: a non-discretionary segment allowing Barclays to purchase up to $60 million of ordinary shares independently of the company, and a discretionary segment where Airtel Africa can guide Barclays in purchasing an additional $50 million, adhering to the regulations set forth by the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

“The program is set to commence today and is expected to conclude by November 27, 2026, unless terminated earlier under the agreement’s terms. Airtel Africa has signaled that as the initiative progresses, further tranches may be announced to achieve its objective of repurchasing up to one percent of its issued share capital.

“The primary aim of this buyback program is to streamline the company’s capital. Accordingly, all shares purchased will be cancelled, contributing to a more efficient capital structure. Any transactions will be performed in alignment with pre-defined parameters outlined in the agreement with Barclays and comply with the authority granted by shareholders for share repurchases.”

At the annual general meeting on July 9, 2025, shareholders authorized the company to buy back a maximum of 366.073 million ordinary shares.

Following the previous buyback program, the remaining authority now stands at a maximum of 357.042 million ordinary shares, demonstrating ongoing support from shareholders for these initiatives.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria’s telecom regulator has released draft rules for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) as authorities seek to organize a market that is still at an early stage.

The NCC published the proposed “Business Rules for Mobile Virtual Network Operations in Nigeria” and opened a consultation process for industry stakeholders.

Comments can be submitted until June 29, while a public consultation is scheduled for July 9.

According to the NCC, the proposed rules define the obligations and responsibilities of both MVNOs and host network operators (HNOs).

The framework also sets conditions for licensing, compliance, interconnection, numbering resources, SIM and eSIM management, and network hosting agreements.

Regulators also seek to guarantee fair access to telecom infrastructure and reduce delays tied to the integration of MVNOs into existing mobile networks.

The text further includes provisions related to service quality, customer protection, network reliability, and data security.

Violations could lead to administrative sanctions or corrective measures under existing telecom laws.

Nigeria officially opened the MVNO market in 2023. That year, the NCC awarded licenses to 25 operators for a combined 5.9 billion naira, or about $4.3 million. Since then, around 40 licenses have been issued, with operators such as Vitel and Visafone already launching services.

Authorities see MVNOs as a way to improve competition in the telecom sector while helping extend services to underserved and unserved populations.

As of March 2026, Nigeria counted 185.7 million mobile subscribers and 153.8 million internet subscribers, according to NCC data.

Despite the size of the market, digital access remains uneven across the country.

Government estimates show that nearly 20 million Nigerians still remain outside the digital ecosystem.

The GSMA estimated that about 120 million Nigerians did not use mobile internet in 2023.

High service costs and inconsistent service quality also remain major concerns in the telecom sector.