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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft Spectrum Roadmap for 2026–2030, alongside new guidelines for opening the lower 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands, as part of efforts to expand broadband access, drive investment, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.

Speaking at the launch on Monday in Abuja, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasized that spectrum is a critical national resource underpinning mobile connectivity, broadband services, satellite communications, emergency networks, financial platforms, and smart technologies.

Representing the EVC, Head of Spectrum Administration, Atiku Lawal, said the roadmap is designed to provide a forward-looking framework that instills investor confidence, encourages innovation, and ensures quality communication services across the country. “The initiatives are expected to stimulate broadband investment, expand digital infrastructure, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy as the country positions itself to meet rising data demand and global competitiveness targets,” he added.

Lawal highlighted that effective spectrum planning will reduce broadband deployment costs, encourage network expansion into underserved areas, and unlock opportunities for businesses that rely on digital connectivity. He noted that demand for spectrum is rising rapidly due to data-intensive applications, artificial intelligence, cloud services, and the Internet of Things, requiring smarter planning and flexible regulation.

The NCC said opening the lower 6GHz and 60GHz bands will provide new capacity for high-speed, affordable, and reliable connectivity, particularly for Wi-Fi in homes, schools, businesses, and public spaces. “Expanded access to unlicensed spectrum will lower barriers to innovation, support new digital services, and enable SMEs to leverage affordable connectivity for growth,” Lawal said.

Representing the Head of Spectrum Administration, Engr. Joseph Emeshili described the roadmap as more than a technical document, calling it a strategic blueprint to bridge the digital divide, expand economic participation, and make reliable connectivity accessible to all Nigerians, including rural communities. He added that the lower 6GHz band will enable the full potential of Wi-Fi 6, while the 60GHz band will support multi-gigabit wireless links for advanced applications such as AI, cloud computing, and smart cities.

Engr. Gidado Maigana, representing NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, said spectrum planning is critical for meeting broadband targets, attracting investment, and ensuring Nigeria remains globally competitive. He noted that stakeholder input will help strengthen final policies and that expanded spectrum access will improve network quality, reduce deployment costs, and accelerate the transition to a digitally driven economy.

The NCC said its approach aligns with national development priorities and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030.

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday held a closed-door meeting with former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, at his uphill residence in Minna.

Sources at the Ahmed Bola Tinubu International Airport, Minna, confirmed that Obasanjo was accompanied from the airport by officials of the Niger State Government House protocol unit before proceeding to Babangida’s residence.

The meeting lasted about 30 minutes, after which Obasanjo returned to the airport for his departure.

No one within the Babangida residence has commented on the visit, and no official statement had been issued as at the time of filing this report.

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Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday formally opened Nigeria House at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, describing the country’s first-ever sovereign pavilion at the annual meeting as a statement of Nigeria’s renewed seriousness and readiness to engage the global economy as an active participant.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Shettima said nations do not prosper in isolation and stressed that Nigeria’s future growth depends on deliberate, structured engagement with the world.

“For the first time in our nation’s history, Nigeria stands at Davos with a sovereign pavilion of its own,” he said, adding that Nigeria House “reflects our intention, our seriousness, and above all our resolve to take a front-line seat in the discourse of the global economy, not as observers, but as participants with a clear sense of purpose.”

The Vice President noted that although Nigeria House was conceived as a whole-of-government platform, bringing together leadership across trade, investment, foreign affairs, energy, infrastructure, technology, climate and culture, its success would ultimately be driven by private enterprise.

In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “government can open doors and de-risk environments; only enterprise can animate growth and translate policy into productivity”.

Shettima said the commissioning coincides with early dividends from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms, citing stronger non-oil growth and improved macroeconomic indicators.

He added that services, agriculture, finance and technology are expanding, while non-oil revenues now account for a larger share of government collections.

Inflationary pressures, he said, eased through 2025, foreign reserves improved, and stability returned to the foreign exchange market.

Inviting global investors to engage through the new platform, the Vice President said Nigeria House would host forward-looking conversations.

“Nigeria is open for business, and more importantly, open for collaboration. Progress is not a monologue; it is a dialogue,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, applauded Shettima’s support for the project, describing Nigeria House as a product of strong public-private partnership and a symbol of renewed national pride.

She said investment playbooks launched at the event outline opportunities across solid minerals, climate-smart agriculture, creative and digital sectors, aligning with the administration’s drive to rebuild trust and restore credibility.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yano, said Nigeria House would consolidate gains of ongoing economic transformation by attracting non-oil investments and advocating fairer access to finance for emerging markets.

The Lead Execution Partner, Omowunmi Imoukhuede, said the pavilion offers a rare chance to tell Nigeria’s investment story to the world.

The commissioning followed a Global Business Roundtable on resilient supply chains for the energy transition.

Dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Ude; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; heads of agencies and captains of industry.