As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and accelerate the country’s push towards a $1 trillion digital economy, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a new Spectrum Roadmap for 2026–2030, alongside draft guidelines for opening the lower 6GHz and 60GHz bands.

Stakeholders in the telecommunications sector on Monday converged in Abuja for the Consultative Forum on the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 and the Guidelines for Opening the Lower 6GHz and 60GHz Bands, where the Commission presented the proposed policy frameworks and sought industry input.

Speaking at the Forum, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, described spectrum as an invisible but indispensable national resource that powers mobile communications, broadband networks, satellite services, financial platforms and smart technologies across the country.

Represented by the Head of Spectrum Administration, Engr Atiku Lawal, the EVC said rising demand driven by data-intensive applications, cloud services, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things has made forward-looking spectrum planning inevitable.

“The Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 is about creating a transparent, predictable and enabling regulatory environment that supports investment, encourages innovation, expands access and improves service quality for all Nigerians,” Maida said.

He explained that the roadmap is designed to give industry players confidence to invest and the flexibility to innovate, while ensuring that Nigeria’s digital growth remains inclusive, sustainable and aligned with national development priorities.

On the draft guidelines, Maida said the proposed opening of the lower 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 and the 60GHz licence-exempt band for multi-gigabit wireless systems marks a bold step towards expanding spectrum available for unlicensed use.

“These bands will significantly expand the spectrum available for high-speed, affordable and reliable connectivity, enabling faster Wi-Fi and innovative services across homes, schools, businesses, healthcare facilities and public spaces,” he noted.

The EVC added that with Wi-Fi carrying a large share of global internet traffic, opening the new bands would help Nigeria prepare for future data demands, not only on mobile networks but also across campuses, enterprises and public infrastructure.

Linking the initiative to national policy, he said the roadmap and guidelines support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030.

In a keynote address delivered by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr Abraham Oshadami, he said the engagement reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that spectrum resources benefit every community.

Represented by the Head of Fixed Networks and Converged Services at the NCC, Engr Gidado Maigana, Oshadami described spectrum as the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy and a scarce national asset that must be managed with transparency, prudence and collaboration.

“The way we plan, assign and regulate spectrum will determine our ability to achieve national targets, stimulate innovation and strengthen global competitiveness,” Oshadami stated.

While acknowledging progress in mobile broadband penetration, 5G deployment and quality of service, he warned that rising data demand from fixed wireless access, real-time applications and emerging technologies requires deliberate and forward-looking planning.

He said the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 provides clarity, predictability and transparency, while aligning spectrum management with national priorities such as bridging the digital divide, enhancing quality of experience, promoting innovation and encouraging market-driven investment.

On the opening of the lower 6GHz and 60GHz bands, Oshadami said the move would help ease congestion on existing Wi-Fi bands, with the lower 6GHz offering wider channels and higher data rates, and the 60GHz band enabling multi-gigabit wireless connectivity for advanced use cases.

According to him, the draft guidelines clearly outline deployment scenarios, power limits, interference mitigation measures and compliance frameworks to ensure efficient and safe use of the bands.

Both speakers stressed that the success of the proposed frameworks would depend on sustained collaboration with industry stakeholders, noting that feedback from the consultative process would shape the final policies.

“The decisions we make today will shape Nigeria’s digital trajectory for years to come,” Oshadami remarked.

Lebara Nigeria has launched the Agent Registration Portal (ARP), a new digital onboarding platform designed to accelerate the expansion of its retail and point-of-sale (POS) network nationwide.

Through the Agent Registration Portal, Lebara aims to create awareness, build trust and credibility within the retail channel, create opportunities for Nigerians to register and become Lebara partners, and position the brand as a modern, digitally driven, and opportunity – focused telecom operator.

With the introduction of the Agent Registration Portal, alongside its earlier customer-focused digital tools, Lebara Nigeria is designed to empower SMEs, independent distributors, SIM sellers, and retailers nationwide by removing traditional barriers to entry and enabling compliant, digital-first onboarding at scale.

Also, positioning  itself as a digitally driven telecom entrant, focused on speed, compliance, and nationwide reach as it prepares for full-scale operations across the country.

The rollout comes as part of a national onboarding campaign running from January to March, 2026, targeting both low-scale retail agents and high-scale distributors.

Through the portal, Lebara aims to rapidly grow its digital and physical presence across Nigeria while ensuring all partners meet required compliance and verification standards

The Agent Registration Portal is accessible via the Lebara Nigeria website and allows prospective agents and distributors to complete the entire onboarding process online.

Once approved, partner locations are activated as Lebara POS outlets, trained and authorized to sell Lebara starter packs, data bundles, vouchers and other Lebara Nigeria products and services.

The launch builds on Lebara Nigeria’s earlier digital initiatives ahead of its full market entry.

Prior to the Agent Registration Portal rollout, the company introduced a Number Registration Portal, enabling prospective customers to select and reserve preferred phone numbers before the network goes live.

The service allows users to secure personalised numbers such as memorable dates, culturally significant digits, or easy-to-recall patterns through a simple online process, giving customers early control over their mobile identity.

The Agent Registration Portal onboarding process follows a structured flow from account creation and document upload to compliance checks, verification, approval, and activation. Applicants are required to submit details such as National Identification Number (NIN), valid government-issued ID, Tax Identification Number (TIN), and address information. Where all documentation is complete, onboarding can be completed within 30 minutes, after which applicants receive email confirmation and next steps.

Commenting on the launch, Mary O. Akin-Adesokan, Chief Operating Officer of Lebara Nigeria, said the portal is central to the company’s operational and growth strategy in the country.

“The Agent Registration Portal is a key part of our strategy to scale Lebara’s retail presence nationwide. It allows us to onboard partners faster, ensure full compliance, and provide both small retailers and large distributors with a transparent and reliable way to do business with Lebara.

“Together with our earlier Number Reservation Portal, it demonstrates our commitment to using digital innovation to simplify access, empower partners, and enhance the overall telecom experience,” she said.

MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola has declared that the era of outsiders telling Africa’s story is over, positioning the continent as a global powerhouse of authors, architects, and innovators.

MTN Nigeria

Toriola made the remarks while accepting the ‘CEO of the Year’ award at the 2025 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Recognition Ceremony in Lagos.

“For decades, stories about Africa were told about us, but rarely by us,” he said, rejecting outdated narratives of conflict and need. “We are no longer the subjects of the story; we are the authors. Africa’s time is now.”

He spotlighted African talent now leading global organisations, alongside Afrobeats and art reshaping world culture, drawing the Diaspora home with investments, not just emotions.

Toriola anchored his vision in MTN Nigeria’s journey, recalling a time when Nigeria’s 120 million people shared fewer than 500,000 telephone lines. “When MTN entered in 2001, analysts said Nigerians were too poor for mobile phones. They were wrong. They underestimated the Nigerian spirit,” he said.

From that first call in May 2001, MTN has connected over 84 million subscribers, building Nigeria’s “digital nervous system.”

He described Nigeria as uniquely investable due to its resilience and scalability, dedicating the award to MTN’s “real heroes”—engineers scaling masts and frontline customer service staff.

As MTN marks 25 years in 2026, Toriola pledged: “We are going nowhere. We are rooted in the soil of Nigeria and Africa.” He urged global elites to become the continent’s “Most Impactful Builders.”