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Business · Nigeria

Obtain an ISP / telecoms licence (NCC)

License an Internet Service Provider / telecoms service with the Nigerian Communications Commission: incorporate → FIRS tax → apply to NCC → grant.

4
steps
3
agencies involved
Who you will deal with
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
The steps
  1. 1Incorporate a company (CAC)
    Agency
    Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
    What is required
    Incorporate in Nigeria. No minimum share capital for an ISP licence, BUT ₦100,000,000 minimum share capital applies where there is foreign participation.
    Documents
    Certificate of Incorporation; MEMART
    Typical timeline
    See CAC procedure
  2. 2Register for tax (FIRS)
    Agency
    Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
    What is required
    Obtain the company's TIN and Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC).
    Documents
    TIN; Tax Clearance Certificate
    Typical timeline
    ~days
  3. 3Apply to NCC for the ISP (Individual) licence
    Agency
    Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
    What is required
    Apply via the Licensing Application Management System. Pay a non-refundable application fee (5% of the licence fee) plus ₦10,000 on submission.
    Documents
    CAC docs; TIN/TCC; business plan; application form
    Typical timeline
    Apply via LAMS
  4. 4NCC review and grant
    Agency
    Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
    What is required
    NCC responds within 90 days (Nigerian Communications Act 2003); on approval pay the licence fee within 30 days. Licence valid 5 years; renew ≥6 months before expiry and pay the annual operating levy.
    Documents
    Approved application; licence fee
    Typical timeline
    Response within 90 days; valid 5 yrs

Primary source: https://www.ncc.gov.ng/licence-fees-pricing · confidence: high

Also in business
Certify a locally-made product (SON MANCAP)Comply with data protection (NDPA / NDPC)Hire a foreign worker (Expatriate Quota & CERPAC)Open a restaurant / food businessRegister a business for tax (TIN & VAT)Register a limited liability company (CAC)

The numbers behind the decision

Knowing the process is half of it. ONYX also tracks the operating environment you are entering — daily grid generation, official FX, state-level input prices and inflation, and sector output — each figure source-linked and dated.

ONYX publishes what the responsible agencies publish, with a link to each source. Requirements, fees and timelines change, and an officer's reading of a rule can differ from the published text. Verify against the linked source before you commit money — this is reference information, not legal advice.

ONYX Data & Intelligence · hello@onyxdata.io