Nigeria: Communications Commission issued guidance notes on implementing and enforcing the Internet Code of Practice

On 13 February 2026, the Nigerian Communications Commission issued guidance notes on implementing and enforcing the Internet Code of Practice 2026 under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. The note clarifies regulatory oversight and governance expectations for licensees and digital platforms. The note sets expectations on open internet standards, traffic blocking and prioritisation, cyber security supervision, enforcement over non-personal transactional data, collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission on personal data, child online safety safeguards, unlawful content reporting and takedown approval procedures, artificial intelligence notification before deployment, and compliance with obligations on illegal and national security-related uses of networks. They establish structured processes for escalation, review, and approval of traffic management requests, designate departmental channels for clarification and redress, and require the appointment of a designated online governance officer within 90 days. The note provides for a 90-day regulatory gestation period from publication, a further 90-day initial compliance period, with first submission of required information to the regulation, and full compliance monitoring and enforcement 180 days from publication of the Code.