The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at addressing fraud, spam, and other issues within the Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging sector.
The proposed framework, which was introduced on Friday during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, seeks to regulate the growing A2P messaging space in Nigeria.
Presenting the framework on behalf of Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, the acting Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, emphasized that A2P messaging, used for important notifications such as bank alerts, promotional campaigns, and government updates, has become a crucial communication tool in the country.
Despite its importance, the sector faces several challenges, including consumer protection concerns, fraud, data privacy issues, and the uneven distribution of value among stakeholders.
The NCC pointed out that the international A2P messaging ecosystem in Nigeria suffers from gaps that have led to these problems, threatening the sustainable growth of the sector.
The framework aims to address these challenges by protecting consumers, ensuring fair competition, and holding service providers accountable.
The NCC reiterated its commitment to fostering innovation while creating a secure, transparent environment for businesses, consumers, and service providers.
“This forum marks a pivotal step towards addressing these challenges,” the NCC stated, urging stakeholders—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to provide feedback and help refine the framework to meet the needs of the entire ecosystem.
The commission emphasized its dedication to creating a regulatory environment that supports innovation while safeguarding the interests of all involved in the A2P messaging sector.
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