By SCM REPORTER I Published: May 9, 2026
ABUJA — In a move set to reshape the digital landscape of West and Central Africa, telecommunications chiefs from Nigeria and Cameroon have met for a high-stakes “benchmarking exercise” aimed at synchronizing the continent’s rapidly growing tech sectors.
Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), played host to his Cameroonian counterpart, Philemon Zoo Zame, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART), at the NCC’s headquarters in Abuja this week.
The meeting which took place on May 6, signals a deepening of diplomatic and economic ties between the neighboring nations. Insiders suggest the “benchmarking” focused on several key areas:
Cross-border Connectivity: Improving digital infrastructure to lower roaming costs for travelers.
Regulatory Alignment: Harmonizing laws to make it easier for UK and international investors to enter both markets simultaneously.
Spectrum Management: Coordination of radio frequencies to prevent interference along the shared 1,000-mile border.
”This isn’t just a courtesy call; it’s a strategic alignment,” said one regional analyst. “Nigeria is the undisputed ‘Giant of Africa’ in tech, and Cameroon is looking to mirror that success to boost its own digital economy.”
For London’s financial district and the UK’s tech sector, this meeting is a significant “buy” signal. Nigeria’s telecoms sector has been a primary destination for foreign direct investment, and a stable, collaborative regulatory environment between Abuja and Yaoundé reduces the risk for British firms looking to expand into the African market.
With over 220 million mobile subscriptions in Nigeria alone, the NCC has become one of the most influential regulators on the continent. By sharing its “playbook” with Cameroon, the region is moving toward a unified digital market that could rival those in Europe or Asia.
Under the leadership of Aminu Maida, the NCC has been on an aggressive drive to improve “Quality of Service” (QoS) and expand broadband penetration to Nigeria’s rural heartlands.
Cameroon’s ART, led by Philemon Zoo Zame, is currently navigating its own digital transformation. By benchmarking against Nigeria’s robust regulatory framework, Cameroon aims to accelerate its rollout of 5G technology and digital financial services.
The meeting in Abuja is part of a wider trend of “South-South cooperation,” where African regulators bypass traditional Western intermediaries to share technical knowledge directly.
The NCC has recently been positioned as a regional hub for training and regulatory excellence.