The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has moved to fortify the nation’s digital backbone, warning that any disruption to telecommunications networks now poses a direct threat to national security and the economy.
Following a landmark Presidential Order designating telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), the NCC is rolling out a comprehensive strategy to shield towers, data centers, and fiber optic cables from rising threats.
A Sector Under Siege
Despite the industry contributing a massive 14.4% to Nigeria’s GDP as of late 2024, the infrastructure remains highly vulnerable. The Commission highlighted a dual-threat landscape:
- Physical Sabotage: Operators are currently grappling with an alarming 30 to 43 fiber cuts every single day due to theft, vandalism, and construction accidents.
- Cyber Warfare: Data from the Deloitte Nigeria Cybersecurity Outlook Report indicates a significant surge in digital attacks targeting the network over the past year.
The New Security Roadmap
Speaking at a strategic stakeholders meeting in Abuja, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida emphasized that the security of these systems is “not negotiable.”
To enforce the new Presidential Order, the NCC has initiated several key measures:
- Nationwide Mapping: A full audit of all critical telecom assets across the country.
- Security Collaboration: Partnering with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to develop a formal CNII Protection Plan.
- Conflict Resolution: The Commission is actively mediating with state governments (recently unblocking stalled projects in Osun and Kogi) to ensure fiber deployment continues without local interference.
- Enforcement: While the NCC prefers collaboration, it warned that punitive measures will be used against those who jeopardize network integrity.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
The NCC’s message to the public and private sectors is clear: telecom facilities must be treated as essential national assets, on par with power grids or water systems.
“Disruptions could paralyse financial transactions, emergency services, and business operations,” the Commission warned.
Dr. Maida urged telecom operators to increase investment in resilient hardware and called on local communities to act as the first line of defense in protecting the infrastructure that powers their daily digital lives.