In a bold move to protect Nigeria’s burgeoning digital economy, key players in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry have proposed a comprehensive strategy to shield critical infrastructure from mounting cyber threats and physical risks.
At the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, representatives from IHS Towers, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) unveiled their vision for a more secure digital future.
The initiative comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s recent executive order designating telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), making its destruction a criminal offense.
Dapo Otunla, Senior Vice President at IHS Towers, emphasized the need for a collaborative approach, stating, “Protecting our digital backbone is not just an industry concern—it’s a national imperative.” IHS has already partnered with the government to equip 3 million Nigerians with essential digital skills over the next three years.
ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo called for the swift implementation of a Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP). He advocated for a centralized database of telecom assets and mandatory surveillance by security agencies.
The NCC’s Deputy Director, Isah Latinwo, assured stakeholders that an updated protection plan would be released by year-end, providing clearer guidelines for safeguarding infrastructure.
Read also: Obafemi Awolowo University gets cutting-edge engineering lab
The urgency of these measures is underscored by recent statistics from MTN Nigeria, which reported over 6,000 fiber cable cuts in 2023 alone. The company spent a staggering N11 billion relocating vulnerable cables—funds that could have expanded coverage to underserved areas.
Nigeria, and other African countries are making moves towards a digital future, therefore, a united front against threats to its telecom infrastructure marks a crucial step in securing the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement.