The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to unveil a five-year national spectrum roadmap in November, a strategic move designed to eliminate inefficiencies in frequency management and unlock idle capacity that could drive the next phase of broadband growth across the country.
The new Spectrum Management and Allocation Blueprint (2025–2030), championed by Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman (EVC) of the NCC, will guide how Nigeria allocates, manages, and optimises its finite spectrum resources in alignment with global standards set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Maida who disclosed this on the sidelines at Moonshot by TechCabal, described spectrum as the invisible highway that carries data between telecom infrastructure and users’ devices, a resource that must be carefully regulated to prevent congestion and ensure consistent service quality.
“Historically, we have assigned these lanes, our frequency bands, through auctions or administrative processes. But we must also ensure that those who get access actually use it effectively, because idle spectrum in a country with growing connectivity demand is a wasted opportunity,” Maida explained.
The upcoming roadmap will, for the first time, project Nigeria’s spectrum needs over a five-year horizon, providing a structured approach to meet rising data demand, support 4G densification, and accelerate 5G rollout beyond Lagos and Abuja. It also aims to strengthen the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025), which targets 70 percent broadband penetration by 2025.
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A key focus of the blueprint will be addressing legacy inefficiencies, including fragmented frequency holdings, underutilised allocations, and dormant spectrum assets. According to Maida, past policies occasionally resulted in spectrum being awarded to operators without the technical or financial capacity to deploy, creating bottlenecks that slowed network expansion.
“We have seen cases where spectrum was assigned but not used optimally. We are correcting that through spectrum trading, encouraging operators to lease or sell unused spectrum to those who can deploy it more efficiently,” he said.
That secondary market reform, already underway, has facilitated notable transactions, such as the recent spectrum sharing agreement between 9mobile and MTN, brokered by the NCC to prevent service disruptions and sustain competition. Maida confirmed that several more trades and policy updates will be announced in the coming weeks. “Our data clearly shows a correlation between spectrum holding and broadband quality. Unlocking idle spectrum will have a direct, positive impact on user experience,” he noted.
Industry analysts say the roadmap could improve the telecom investment climate by offering clarity and predictability around frequency management, a long-standing concern for mobile network operators and investors. Efficient spectrum use is also expected to support Nigeria’s growing digital economy, which relies heavily on 4G infrastructure as the country transitions gradually to 5G.
Maida said the NCC’s ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable connectivity that benefits both operators and consumers. “We are an economic regulator, so investments must make sense. But we also have to ensure Nigerians get the quality of service they deserve. After life and health, connectivity is what people rely on every day, and that’s why getting this right is critical,” he said.
Once launched, the spectrum roadmap will serve as the foundation for spectrum efficiency, equitable access, and broadband resilience in Nigeria beyond 2025, shaping the nation’s digital future through smarter regulation and market collaboration.
