News Highlights:
- NCC’s Commitment to A2P Messaging Ecosystem
- Stakeholder Collaboration and Feedback
Acknowledging the critical role of Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging in today’s digital ecosystem, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to balancing the interests of three of its key stakeholders: the government, consumers, and industry licensees, reports Digital TimesNG.
The NCC explained that whereas for the government, A2P messaging provides a reliable medium to deliver public services and updates efficiently, for consumers, it ensures timely and secure access to essential information and creates opportunities for innovation, competition, and sustainable growth for the industry.
Speaking at a virtual stakeholders’ forum on Friday, to discuss the draft Application-to-Person (A2P) Messaging Licensing Framework, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida said that A2P messaging, widely used for transactional, promotional, and service-related communications, has become a cornerstone of efficient communication for businesses, governments, and service providers.
Maida, whose address was delivered by Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Acting Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, said A2P applications range from bank alerts and healthcare reminders to promotional campaigns and government updates, contributing significantly to socio-economic development.
He, however, noted that challenges persist in Nigeria’s international A2P messaging space, including issues related to consumer protection, fraud, spam, and data privacy, stating that these concerns have disrupted fairness and value distribution across the ecosystem, posing risks to its growth and sustainability.
“This forum marks a pivotal step toward addressing these challenges. Today we will be presenting the proposed regulatory framework for A2P messaging to you, our valued stakeholders, for deliberation. This framework represents our commitment to fostering innovation while ensuring that all players in the value chain operate in a fair, transparent, and secure environment.
“At the NCC, we firmly believe that effective regulation stems from inclusivity and collaboration. This forum is an opportunity for all of us—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to engage in meaningful discussions. We want to hear from you—your perspectives, experiences, and recommendations—so that together, we can refine this framework to ensure it meets the needs of all of us,” Maida said.
The EVC reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to creating a thriving A2P messaging ecosystem that protects consumers, promotes fair competition, and unlocks new growth opportunities, and called for constructive engagement during the forum to shape a framework that benefits all stakeholders.
He reiterated the Commission’s dedication to providing a regulatory environment that fosters innovation, safeguards stakeholders, and drives the growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Another highlight from the virtual event was the presentation of the various feedbacks received as inputs into the A2P Licensing Framework by the NCC which provided responses to each or the observations and recommendations made by the licensees.
The Commission said beyond the Virtual Stakeholders’ Forum which it described as “just the beginning of a process,” it will continue to engage internal and external stakeholders ahead of the Final Draft of the A2P Messaging Services Licensing Framework in line with its participatory rule-making process.
Digital TimesNG gathered that Mrs. Truddy Tony-Awusaku, Assistant Director at the Licensing and Authorisation Department of the NCC made a presentation also which provided an overview of framework for International A2P Messaging in Nigeria.