AI adoption is outpacing governance in Nigeria’s telecom sector, NCC survey shows

Artificial intelligence adoption is advancing across Nigeria’s communications sector faster than governance arrangements are being established, raising questions about accountability, transparency and consumer protection as telecom operators integrate the technology into their operations.

A survey by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) found that 73 percent of surveyed licensees were using or piloting artificial intelligence in live operations, while 27 percent had no governance arrangements for their AI systems.

The findings expose a potential gap between the growing deployment of AI and the structures required to oversee its use, particularly as automated systems increasingly influence how businesses deliver services, process information and interact with consumers.

The survey, presented by Ibiso Kingsley-George, head of Internet Governance at the NCC, at the Commission’s Internet Governance Symposium 2026 in Lagos on Thursday, covered 47 organisations drawn from industry, academia, research institutions and civil society. Respondents included mobile network operators, internet service providers and representatives of the technical community.

Although the results do not establish the extent of AI governance across the entire telecom industry, they highlight the regulatory challenges facing a sector that is increasingly adopting emerging technologies while navigating evolving requirements on online safety, data protection and responsible digital services.

The findings come as the Commission seeks to strengthen implementation of the Internet Code of Practice 2026, which provides a framework for promoting a safer and more responsible online environment.

Kingsley-George said the survey also found strong support for greater transparency in AI deployment, with 94 percent of respondents favouring informing consumers when they were interacting with artificial intelligence.

The result points to a growing expectation that organisations should be transparent about when AI is being used in consumer-facing services, although support for disclosure does not necessarily establish how widely such practices are currently implemented.

For telecom operators and other digital service providers, the challenge extends beyond adopting AI tools to establishing clear internal responsibilities, risk-management procedures and mechanisms for addressing errors or harmful outcomes.

Without appropriate governance arrangements, businesses may find it harder to demonstrate accountability for decisions made or supported by automated systems. Consumers, meanwhile, may have limited understanding of how AI influences their interactions with service providers or how to seek redress when problems arise.

The survey did not specify the particular AI applications being deployed by respondents or detail the risks associated with individual systems. However, the findings provide the NCC with a basis for examining how emerging technologies are being governed across the communications ecosystem.

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NCC moves to clarify AI obligations

The Commission plans to clarify the definition of artificial intelligence systems and explain the applicable prior-notification requirements under the Internet Code of Practice 2026.

Kingsley-George said licensees had requested clearer regulatory expectations, practical implementation guidelines, reporting templates and step-by-step instructions to support compliance with the code.

In response, the NCC plans to publish implementation guidelines, frequently asked questions and compliance templates, while organising workshops to help licensees understand their obligations.

The Commission also intends to use its newly launched Internet Governance Working Group to sustain stakeholder engagement and address gaps in participation in internet governance processes.

The need for clearer guidance reflects a broader implementation challenge for regulators: establishing expectations that are sufficiently specific for businesses to follow while ensuring that rules remain relevant as technologies and their applications evolve.

For companies deploying AI, clearer guidance could help distinguish between general technology adoption and the systems or activities that trigger particular regulatory obligations. It could also help compliance teams understand what information they must provide to the regulator and when notification is required.

The Commission has not, in the information presented at the symposium, specified a timetable for issuing the AI guidance or detailed the consequences of non-compliance with particular notification requirements.

Weak participation presents another challenge

Beyond AI oversight, the survey identified limited participation in internet governance as another obstacle to building a coordinated digital policy framework.

Kingsley-George said three in five organisations had not participated in internet governance processes, while 53 percent of respondents reported involvement in the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum. Another 40 percent said they had not attended any internet governance events.

The figures suggest that awareness and engagement remain significant challenges, even as regulatory decisions increasingly affect businesses, consumers and the wider digital economy.

The survey identified cybersecurity, online safety, child online protection, data protection and AI governance among the major priorities raised by respondents.

However, the findings also indicated substantial interest in continued engagement: 46 of the 47 participating organisations expressed willingness to take part in future stakeholder consultations and workshops.

The NCC hopes the Internet Governance Working Group will provide a continuing platform for industry participants, government institutions, academia, the technical community and civil society to contribute to policy discussions and follow through on agreed priorities.

The Commission’s broader objective is to strengthen the communications sector’s contribution to national and international internet governance discussions, including issues relating to the security of Nigeria’s .ng domain, domain name abuse and developments in global internet policy.

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Cyber resilience and consumer confidence

Opening the symposium, Abraham Oshadami, executive commissioner for technical services at the NCC, said internet governance had become increasingly important because internet access now underpins everyday activities, including transportation, shopping, communication and access to essential services.

He said some Nigerians remained reluctant to use online services because they were uncertain about the associated risks and potential consequences.

Oshadami said a better understanding of the structures governing internet use could help people access digital services with greater confidence.

He identified the Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigeria Communications Sector as one of the measures introduced to protect digital infrastructure against cyber incidents and reduce their potential impact.

The framework addresses the resilience of the infrastructure underpinning digital services, while the Internet Code of Practice focuses on promoting a safer and more responsible online environment. Both are relevant to the wider challenge of building trust in digital services, although they address different aspects of the ecosystem.

The distinction is important as AI adoption expands. Protecting networks and infrastructure does not, by itself, resolve questions about how AI systems are governed, how consumers are informed about automated interactions or how organisations remain accountable for their use of the technology.

The NCC’s findings therefore point to two related priorities: strengthening the security of the infrastructure that supports digital services and improving the governance of the technologies operating within that infrastructure.

For Nigeria’s telecom sector, progress will depend not only on the adoption of new technologies but also on whether companies can establish appropriate oversight, comply with regulatory expectations and maintain consumer confidence.

The Commission’s planned guidance and stakeholder engagement could help address some of these gaps. The effectiveness of those measures, however, will depend on the clarity of the requirements, the extent of industry compliance and the consistency with which the new governance arrangements are implemented.