Joy Agwunobi 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for a united front among industry players, government agencies, and communities to safeguard Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, describing it as the backbone of the nation’s digital economy and a critical driver of socio-economic growth.

Speaking in Lagos at the second edition of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria’s (ATCON) Strategic Stakeholders Meeting, Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the NCC, said the protection of telecoms infrastructure has become a national imperative following the June 2024 Presidential Order designating such assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

Themed “Building Resilience in Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure: The Executive Order and Beyond”, the meeting brought together operators, policymakers, and security stakeholders to chart strategies for securing assets that underpin services in banking, healthcare, education, energy, public safety, and governance.

Maida noted that with 171 million active mobile subscriptions, a teledensity of 79.22 percent as of June 2025, and a sectoral GDP contribution of over 14.4 percent in Q4 2024, Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has become indispensable to national stability, digital inclusion, and economic transformation.

“A disruption in our telecommunications network can stall emergency services, halt financial transactions, disrupt businesses, and affect national security. Resilience is not a luxury—it is a national imperative,” he said.

Citing Deloitte’s Nigeria Cybersecurity Outlook Report 2024, Maida said the industry is grappling with a rise in sophisticated cyberattacks from ransomware to insider breaches while physical threats such as vandalism and theft persist. Operators, he disclosed, face an average of 30 to 43 fibre cuts daily, eroding service reliability and public trust.

These realities, he said, validate the Presidential Order as a landmark recognition of telecommunications as a cornerstone of digital sovereignty. It aligns with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030) and the Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to bolster citizen confidence, attract investment, and position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s digital 

Maida explained the multi-layered response the Commission is taking to operationalise the Presidential Order, noting that the NCC has rolled out a series of coordinated initiatives aimed at protecting critical assets nationwide. These include comprehensive infrastructure mapping to identify and prioritise telecom facilities most in need of protection, and the development of a Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP) in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser to strengthen defences against both cyber and physical threats. 

The Commission has also embarked on extensive stakeholder awareness campaigns—delivered through radio, social media, and community engagement programmes—designed to foster a sense of shared responsibility in safeguarding telecom infrastructure.

In addition, the NCC is working closely with the Federal Ministries of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, and Works to ensure fibre networks are protected during road construction projects, a collaboration that will be formalised through a forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding. 

At the sub-national level, the Commission is engaging state governments to harmonise right-of-way policies and mediate disputes, with recent interventions in Osun and Kogi States successfully unlocking stalled infrastructure deployments. High-level consultations with lawmakers, members of the judiciary, and state attorneys-general are also ongoing to clarify institutional roles and strengthen enforcement capacity.

While collaboration remains the preferred approach, Maida emphasised that enforcement—backed by security and legal agencies—will be deployed when engagement fails.

Addressing industry concerns over leadership in CNII protection, Maida affirmed the NCC’s statutory role as sector regulator but stressed that “leadership does not mean exclusivity.”

“A fragmented approach risks diluting our efforts and undermining the Order’s objectives. The NCC is committed to a coordinated strategy that leverages the expertise and resources of all stakeholders—telecom operators, government agencies, security forces, and communities,” he said.

Maida also outlined a roadmap for the way forward, anchored on five strategic pillars aimed at ensuring the long-term security and resilience of Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure. He stressed the need to scale up public awareness campaigns that sensitise citizens to treat communications infrastructure as national assets, supported by community-based surveillance programmes that complement state-led enforcement, with the media playing a vital role in this effort. 

He called for enhanced inter-stakeholder collaboration among players in the communications industry and other key sectors, as well as improved information sharing between critical stakeholders—such as construction companies and infrastructure owners—during road construction and maintenance activities to prevent accidental damage. 

Maida further emphasised the importance of streamlining and standardising acquisition and permitting processes for new communications infrastructure builds to reduce delays and encourage expansion. 

Finally, he underscored the pressing need for stronger enforcement and deterrence mechanisms to ensure adequate punitive measures are taken against those who damage critical infrastructure, given the serious socio-economic, safety, and security implications of such acts.

He urged ATCON and private operators to actively shape the CNII framework, bringing innovation and operational insight to create a secure, resilient, and inclusive digital infrastructure.

“The security and resilience of our national infrastructure is not negotiable. Let us build a digital future that is resilient, inclusive, and unstoppable,” Maida added.

Similarly, Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), warned that vandalism and cyberattacks on telecommunications infrastructure now pose an existential threat to Nigeria’s security, economy, and digital future.

Ribadu described telecom facilities as the backbone of economic growth, social inclusion, and national security, stressing that their protection requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

He called for stiffer penalties for fibre cuts, the creation of a dedicated infrastructure protection fund, stronger community engagement, and intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks targeting telecom assets.

“Telecommunication is no longer merely a support industry; it is the backbone of Nigeria’s economic growth, social inclusion, and national security. From fintech to healthcare, education to e-commerce, every sector depends on reliable, affordable, and secure digital infrastructure. In today’s world, broadband connectivity is no longer a luxury; it is a fundamental right,” he stated.

Ribadu stressed that without a resilient telecom sector, Nigeria cannot realise its vision of becoming a hub for innovation, youth empowerment, job creation, and security. “The compromise of such systems, therefore, poses not just operational risks but existential threats to national defence and public safety,” he added.