By Taiwo Scholarstica
The Federal Government has ordered a temporary halt to the implementation of newly introduced regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting issues within the digital economy, pending the completion of a unified national policy framework.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, after a strategic meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, the minister instructed the agencies to suspend the implementation and enforcement of recently introduced regulations, guidelines, codes and directives concerning internet platforms and other digital economy matters that are currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation.
The move is aimed at ensuring that regulatory actions across the digital sector are aligned under a coordinated framework before enforcement resumes.
“The existing regulatory status quo shall be maintained with respect to matters relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation under the Ministry’s coordination,” the statement read.
The government said maintaining the current regulatory framework would provide stability while efforts continue to develop a harmonised policy that addresses overlapping responsibilities among agencies overseeing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The decision is expected to give regulators time to streamline their approaches and avoid conflicting directives that could affect businesses, technology companies and other stakeholders operating within the country’s growing digital economy.
The Ministry noted that the coordinated policy process is intended to strengthen regulatory clarity while supporting innovation and sustainable growth across the sector.