The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has raised concerns over the preparedness of telecommunications and internet service licensees to implement the 2026 Internet Code of Practice (ICOP), with only two of the 19 licensees surveyed reporting full readiness.
The survey findings, presented at the NCC Internet Governance Symposium 2026 in Lagos on Thursday, showed that nine licensees were partially prepared, while five admitted they were not ready to implement the code.
The findings point to implementation gaps in key areas, particularly cybersecurity obligations and provisions relating to artificial intelligence (AI), as industry operators called for clearer guidelines, reporting templates and practical support from the regulator.
Presenting the survey, the NCC’s Head of Internet Governance, Ibiso Kingsley George, said the exercise received 47 responses from stakeholders across industry, academia and civil society.
Respondents included seven mobile network operators, five internet service providers and 12 academic institutions, among others.
However, the readiness figures report accounted for only 16 of the 19 licensees surveyed, leaving three outside the categories disclosed in the presentation. Beyond implementation challenges, the survey identified limited participation in internet governance activities as another concern.
