In March 2026, the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN) officially released the 2026 edition of the *Code of Conduct for VAS Service Providers*, setting out systematic compliance requirements for A2P SMS and voice service providers. WASPAN is Nigeria’s self‑regulatory body for the value‑added service (VAS) industry, representing the interests of licensed domestic VAS providers. All members are required to abide by the association’s constitution, code of conduct and other internal policies.
On operational practices, the code lays down four core obligations for A2P SMS and voice providers. First, Sender ID registration: providers must register and file Sender IDs with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to guarantee traceable and identifiable origins for every A2P SMS. Second, DND‑list scrubbing: before dispatching marketing messages, providers must scrub against the national Do‑Not‑Disturb registry and refrain from messaging users who have opted out of commercial communications. Third, user opt‑out mechanism: providers shall implement robust opt‑out workflows allowing users to unsubscribe conveniently at any time. Fourth, prohibition of prohibited content: strict ban on scam messages, spam marketing and other unlawful material.
WASPAN applies graduated sanctions for member violations: membership suspension plus formal notification to telecom operators to disconnect traffic channels. This dual mechanism combining industry self‑governance and carrier‑level traffic control aims to clean‑up the domestic A2P SMS ecosystem. Previously, the NCC held multiple consultations with WASPAN and stakeholders over VAS malpractices such as auto‑renewals and forced subscriptions, urging effective oversight of the VAS sub‑sector. The newly‑released code further concretises and systematises compliance obligations for A2P SMS providers.
