The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, described the MoU as a landmark partnership aimed at advancing consumer welfare and fostering a transparent and competitive telecoms industry. He emphasized the importance of regulatory collaboration in addressing challenges such as market abuses, consumer rights violations, and the complexities of a rapidly evolving digital economy.
“This MoU ensures our efforts are harmonized to avoid regulatory uncertainty while promoting the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda,” Dr. Maida stated.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunji Bello, highlighted the necessity of the partnership, explaining that overlapping regulatory frameworks prevent gaps and enhance oversight. He noted that Section 105 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 mandates such collaborations to ensure comprehensive consumer protection without duplication of efforts.
“This agreement eliminates regulatory gaps, streamlines operations for telecom operators, and ensures robust consumer protection and fair competition,” Mr. Bello said, adding that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of fostering economic growth and prioritizing consumer welfare.
Both leaders commended their teams for their efforts in finalizing the MoU and called on stakeholders to embrace this collaborative spirit. They emphasized that the partnership would set a precedent for other sector regulators to work more closely with the FCCPC in creating unified and effective regulatory frameworks.
