The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has underscored the importance of sustainability and security in the telecom industry, particularly with the designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), reports ITREALMS.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NCC, who was represented by Engr Edoyemi Ogoh - Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, emphasized that the industry contributes over 14.4% to Nigeria's GDP and underpins critical sectors like banking, energy, health, security, education, and governance.
The NCC, he said, is working to address challenges such as access denial, vandalism, fibre cuts, and theft, which cause service downtime and hinder maintenance tasks. Power supply gaps, right-of-way bottlenecks, and complex permit processes for new telecom builds also pose significant challenges.
Additionally, he noted that cyber threats are a growing concern due to increasing Over-The-Top (OTT) and IoT usage.
To ensure sustainability and security, he said, the NCC is promoting public awareness and community ownership, encouraging citizens to treat communications infrastructure as national assets.
The Commission, he said, is also fostering improved inter-stakeholder collaboration, streamlined acquisition and permit processes, and strengthened enforcement and deterrence mechanisms.
The NCC's efforts include the Right of Way (RoW) Harmonisation Initiative, a CNII Industry Working Group, and mediation as a proactive dispute resolution mechanism.
By working together, he said, the industry can build a future-proof communication ecosystem that is secure, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.
Dr. Maida delivered a keynote speech at the NITRA-ALTON CNII & Telecom Sustainability Conference 2025, held at CityHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, highlighting the importance of securing critical national information infrastructure.
The conference brought together stakeholders from government, regulatory agencies, telecom operators, infrastructure companies, and the media to discuss practical implementation of the CNII Order and broader sustainability challenges.
The NCC's goal is to safeguard CNII and promote a robust and reliable telecom industry that supports Nigeria's economic and social development. By addressing the challenges and working together, the industry can ensure a sustainable and secure telecom ecosystem for the future.
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