The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has called on telecom operators, government agencies, and stakeholders to unite in safeguarding Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, which he described as the backbone of the nation’s digital economy.
Dr. Maida made this call while delivering the keynote address at the 2nd Strategic Stakeholders Meeting of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), held on Friday, August 15, 2025. Speaking on the theme “Building Resilience in Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure: The Executive Order and Beyond”, he stressed that telecommunications infrastructure is now central to Nigeria’s economic stability, security, and social development.
According to him, the June 2024 Presidential Order designating telecoms as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) marked a turning point in recognizing the sector as a pillar of national stability and digital sovereignty. With over 171 million mobile subscribers, a teledensity of 79.22%, and contributing 14.4% to Nigeria’s GDP as of Q4 2024, Maida said the telecom industry is indispensable to banking, healthcare, education, governance, and national security.
He, however, raised concerns over mounting threats facing the sector, including cyberattacks, vandalism, fibre cuts, and theft of equipment. “Service providers report an average of 30 to 43 fibre cuts daily, which erode service reliability, public trust, and economic stability,” he noted.
To operationalize the Presidential Order, the NCC has rolled out a number of initiatives:
— Comprehensive mapping of critical telecom assets nationwide.
— Development of a Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP) in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
— Stakeholder awareness campaigns to promote community protection of telecom facilities.
— Collaboration with the Ministries of Works and Digital Economy to safeguard fibre cables during road projects.
— Engagement with state governments to harmonize policies and curb multiple taxation, while mediating disputes that hinder infrastructure roll-out.
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Dr. Maida emphasized that the NCC will continue to prioritize collaboration over enforcement, but warned that enforcement actions remain on the table for persistent infractions. “Our goal is not to penalize, but to preserve the integrity and continuity of national communications systems,” he said.
Looking ahead, he outlined five key pillars for building resilience: public awareness and community ownership, inter-stakeholder collaboration, improved information sharing, streamlined permit processes, and strengthened deterrence mechanisms against vandalism.
He called on ATCON members and all industry players to actively shape the CNII framework, stressing that protecting digital infrastructure is a collective responsibility.
“The security and resilience of our national infrastructure is not negotiable,” Maida declared. “Let us commit today to invest, collaborate, and protect, so that Nigeria’s digital future is resilient, inclusive, and unstoppable.”
