By Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, Dec.16.25
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued a sweeping directive on Tuesday, ordering telecommunications and technology licensees to come clean regarding unauthorized changes to their ownership structures or face stiff legal sanctions.
The federal regulator announced a 45-day “grace period” for companies that have altered their shareholding by more than 10 percent without seeking the government’s prior consent.
The move marks a significant tightening of oversight in one of Africa’s largest and most lucrative digital markets.
Under the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003, telecom providers are legally required to obtain explicit approval from the Commission before executing any major transfer of shares.
The NCC’s notice suggests that a number of firms have bypassed these protocols, effectively changing their corporate DNA behind closed doors.
“All licensees of the Commission are hereby directed to regularize their more than 10 percent unapproved change in their shareholding structure within 45 days,” the Commission stated in a public notice.
To encourage compliance, the NCC is offering a temporary amnesty. During the six-week window, the agency stated it would waive the usual penalties for previous infractions.
However, the tone of the announcement turned sharp regarding those who miss the deadline, noting that the Commission will move to “impose appropriate sanctions” under the 2019 Enforcement Processes Regulations once the window shuts.
Industry analysts view the move as an effort to increase transparency and prevent “hidden” monopolies or foreign influence in critical national infrastructure. Nigeria’s telecom sector, dominated by giants like MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, contributing significantly to its Gross Domestic Product.
By invoking specific clauses of the 2019 Licensing Regulations, the NCC is signaling that it intends to move away from a period of lax oversight toward a more rigid, document-heavy enforcement phase.
The directive comes at a time when Nigeria is aggressively courting foreign direct investment while simultaneously trying to strengthen its domestic regulatory framework.
For many startups and mid-sized internet service providers that may have shuffled equity during recent funding rounds, the next 45 days will be a race to file paperwork—or risk losing the right to operate in the continent’s most populous nation.
