ATCON CNII Summit: Maida Reaffirms NCC’s Commitment to Protecting Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s critical digital infrastructure, describing resilience and security as “a national imperative” in Nigeria’s march toward a fully digital economy.

This reaffirmation came at the 2nd edition of the Strategic Stakeholders Meeting of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), held in Lagos on Friday.

Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman/CEO of the NCC, delivered a keynote address on the theme “Building Resilience in Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure: The Executive Order and Beyond.”

His remarks were read on his behalf by Mrs. Chioma Ibe, assistant director in the Commission’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department.

Telecoms as National Lifelines

Dr. Maida noted that Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, now boasting over 171 million mobile subscribers and contributing 14.4% to GDP as of Q4 2024, has become the backbone of the digital economy.

From financial transactions and healthcare to education and national security, telecom infrastructure underpins every facet of modern life.

“With an average of 30 to 43 fibre cuts reported daily by service providers, alongside rising cyberthreats and acts of vandalism, resilience is no longer a luxury, it is a national necessity,” he warned.

The EVC underscored the importance of the Presidential Executive Order of June 2024, which designated telecommunications systems as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

This, he said, was a landmark recognition of telecoms as essential to Nigeria’s stability, sovereignty, and prosperity.

Steps Toward Operationalisation

Highlighting the NCC’s efforts to give full effect to the Order, Dr. Maida outlined key interventions:

• Infrastructure Mapping: A nationwide exercise to identify and prioritise telecom assets for protection and investment.
• Protection Plan: Collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to prevent cyberattacks, vandalism, and sabotage through intelligence-sharing and coordinated response mechanisms.
• Public Sensitisation: Campaigns via radio, social media, and community outreach to promote collective responsibility for safeguarding telecom assets.
• Partnerships with Ministries: Joint mechanisms with the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to protect fibre cables during construction projects.
• Sub-National Engagement: Dialogue with state governments to harmonise right-of-way policies, reduce multiple taxation, and curb local disruptions.
• Dispute Mediation: Using dialogue to resolve infrastructure rollout challenges, with notable successes recorded in Osun and Kogi States.
• Enforcement: Reserved as a last resort, in partnership with security agencies, to protect national communication systems.

“These interventions reflect a layered approach to CNII protection, preventive, participatory, and pragmatic,” Dr. Maida explained.

Shared Responsibility and Collaboration

Addressing industry concerns about leadership, Dr. Maida clarified that while the NCC, as regulator, is mandated to lead the CNII framework, the task requires the active collaboration of government, operators, security agencies, lawmakers, and local communities.

“A fragmented approach risks diluting our efforts. But together, we can build a cohesive ecosystem that safeguards CNII and drives Nigeria’s digital ambitions,” he said.

The Way Forward

Looking ahead, the EVC outlined five strategic pillars for securing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure:

1. Public Awareness & Community Ownership – treating telecom assets as national property.
2. Inter-Stakeholder Collaboration – deepened cooperation across agencies and industry players.
3. Information Sharing – improved coordination during construction and maintenance projects.
4. Streamlined Permit Processes – reducing delays in new infrastructure deployment.
5. Stronger Enforcement – punitive measures for sabotage or damage to national infrastructure.

He urged ATCON members and other stakeholders to join forces with the Commission, not just to comply with policy, but to build a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive digital future for Nigeria.

“The security and resilience of our national infrastructure is not negotiable,” he declared. “The NCC pledges its unwavering resolve to lead this vision, but its success hinges on our collective action.”

The summit brought together industry leaders, government representatives, and security experts, reinforcing ATCON’s role as a key convener in shaping Nigeria’s digital destiny.

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