Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida.

In line with its policy of collaboration, inclusivity and robust stakeholder engagement, the Nigerian Communications Commission has held a one-day virtual stakeholders’ forum to seek their inputs on the regulatory framework proposal for Application-to-Person A2P messaging licensing framework. This is with a view to evolving a regulatory framework in order to address inherent limitations and challenges.

The A2P messaging is a communication format in the telecommunications sector used to send Short Message Services SMS or sending notifications from an application directly to a recipient’s mobile phone. Under this platform, the messages are initiated through the internet while the recipients receive them via Cellular Connection, thus enabling businesses to send SMS directly to recipients via mobile networks.

Speaking at the virtual forum, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida noted that it has become expedient and necessary to evolve an A2P messaging licensing framework, given that despite its undeniable value, the international A2P messaging space in Nigeria is faced significant challenges, which include consumer protection, fraud prevention, and ensuring industry fairness.

Represented by the acting head, Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Dr, Maida noted that A2P messaging plays a vital role in today’s digital world, adding that it has become the go-to platform for businesses to send notifications, whether transactional, promotional, or service-related, directly to consumers.

According to him, A2P messaging drives efficiency, from bank alerts and healthcare reminders to promotional campaigns and government updates, enhances communication, and supports socio-economic development.

He disclosed that the Commission’s strategic focus is centred on three key stakeholders comprising the government, consumers, and the industry, especially NCC’s licensees, adding that each of these stakeholders plays a vital role in the success of the A2P messaging platform.

While analysing the uses of the platform for the various categories of stakeholders, the NCC boss noted that for the government, A2P messaging remains a powerful tool for communication with citizens, enabling the efficient delivery of public services and information, while for consumers, it guarantees timely, secure, and reliable access to essential updates and services.

For the industry, he further noted, it creates opportunities for businesses and service providers to innovate, drive competition, and achieve sustainable growth.

He said: “A2P messaging plays a vital role in today’s digital world. It has become the go-to platform for businesses to send notifications, whether transactional, promotional, or service-related, directly to consumers. From bank alerts and healthcare reminders to promotional campaigns and government updates, A2P messaging drives efficiency, enhances communication, and supports our socio-economic development.

“At the Nigerian Communications Commission, our strategic focus is centred on three key stakeholders: the government, consumers, and the industry—our licensees. Each of these stakeholders plays a vital role in the success of the A2P messaging platform.

“For the government, A2P messaging is a powerful tool for communication with citizens, enabling the efficient delivery of public services and information. For consumers, it guarantees timely, secure, and reliable access to essential updates and services. For the industry, it creates opportunities for businesses and service providers to innovate, drive competition, and achieve sustainable growth.

“Despite its undeniable value, the international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces significant challenges, including consumer protection, fraud prevention, and ensuring industry fairness. These gaps have led to issues such as fraud, spam, data privacy concerns, and an unequal distribution of value across the ecosystem. Such challenges not only affect businesses and consumers but also pose a threat to the sustainable growth and potential of this crucial communication tool.

“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.

“Our goal is to create a sustainable and thriving A2P messaging ecosystem that protects consumers, promotes fair competition, and unlocks new opportunities for growth. To achieve this, your active participation today is essential. I urge you to engage constructively, provide feedback, and contribute ideas that will help shape the future of A2P messaging in Nigeria.

“Let me assure you that the Nigerian Communications Commission remains committed to providing a regulatory environment that supports innovation, protects stakeholders, and ensures that our telecommunications sector continues to thrive.”

Assistant Director at the Licensing and Authorisation department of the Commission, Mrs. Truddy Tony-Awusaku, while speaking at the event, provided an overview of framework for international A2P messaging in Nigeria, listing some of the common uses of the platform, which include marketing, notifications, alerts and transactional messages.

On the current status of the platform, she observed that there is lack of regulation and absence of a unified oversight, leading to revenue leakages, as payments are often bypassed with the attendant tax evasion, thus reducing economic benefits to the country. Others include security risks occasioned by increased spam, fraud, and illegal activities, while market disparities have given rise to unregulated termination rates and leading to inconsistencies.

She also adduced reasons for regulatory oversight, which include standardised tariffs and fair competition, enhanced security against spam and fraud, fraud prevention and unwanted traffic, increased local revenue through taxation and levies and comprehensive market oversight.

Some of the objectives, according to her include centralised international A2P message routing, mandate compliance with a unified platform, protection of user data with stringent security protocols and fostering a competitive and transparent market.

The scope of the licence includes to operate a centralised International A2P platform route A2P messages securely, offer transactional and notification services, implement subscriber opt in and out mechanisms while the limitations include being prohibited from providing services not included in the scope, no provision of non-licensed telecom services, prohibition against unauthorised activities and inability to qualify for International Signalling Point Code ISPC and National Numbering Plan, among other features.