NCC Launches Internet Governance Working Group To Strengthen Online Safety And AI Accountability

NCC Launches Internet Governance Working Group

 

OpenLife News reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a new Internet Governance Working Group to strengthen online safety, accountability and the protection of Nigerians in the digital space.

The initiative was unveiled on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in Lagos, at the inaugural NCC Internet Governance Symposium, where the Commission called for stronger stakeholder collaboration to address emerging challenges around Artificial Intelligence (AI), online fraud, privacy, and protection of vulnerable users.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, said internet governance decisions go beyond technology and connectivity.

“They affect opportunity, trust, security and the rights of the people who use it,” Oshadami said, stressing the need for Nigeria to play an active role in shaping global and local internet governance discourse.

He noted that the rapid advancement of AI is transforming how Nigerians learn, work, communicate and access services, while simultaneously raising critical concerns around harmful content, fraud, data privacy, accountability and child protection.

“No single institution can address these challenges in isolation. They require cooperation across the communications sector and beyond,” he said.

Oshadami highlighted two key frameworks driving the Commission’s agenda for a safer digital ecosystem: the Internet Code of Practice (ICOP) 2026, which provides guidelines for a more responsible and secure online environment, and the Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigeria Communication Sector (CRF-NCS), designed to strengthen the security and resilience of digital infrastructure.

According to him, the effectiveness of both frameworks will depend on clear expectations, meaningful stakeholder engagement and consistent implementation, to ensure Nigerians can use the internet with greater confidence.

The major highlight of the symposium was the formal launch of the Internet Governance Working Group (IGWG) — a dedicated multi-stakeholder platform that will sustain dialogue beyond the symposium, identify practical priorities, and drive coordinated action on Nigeria’s digital challenges.

In a statement issued at the end of the symposium by the Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Oshadami was quoted as urging participants to engage candidly and constructively, and to leave the symposium with a clearer understanding of their roles and a shared commitment to action.

Mrs Ukoha stated that the Commission appreciates the participation of all stakeholders and formally declared the inaugural NCC Internet Governance Symposium 2026 open, with a renewed commitment to a safer, more secure and responsible digital future for Nigeria.