The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has emphasized the need for collective action to secure Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2nd edition of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Strategic Stakeholders Meeting recently, Dr. Maida highlighted the critical role of telecommunications in Nigeria’s economic and social development.
He noted that Nigeria’s digital transformation has accelerated over the past decade, with a growing dependency on digital infrastructure.
The NCC boss emphasized that disruptions to this infrastructure can have far-reaching consequences, including stalling emergency services, halting financial transactions, and affecting national security. “Resilience is not a luxury – it is a national imperative,” he stressed.
Dr. Maida highlighted the Presidential Order of June 2024, which designates telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). He noted that this designation is a landmark recognition of telecommunications as a cornerstone of national stability and digital sovereignty.
Maida disclosed that the NCC has taken bold steps to operationalize this Order, including comprehensive infrastructure mapping, developing a Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan, and launching stakeholder awareness campaigns.
He called on ATCON, telecom operators, and all stakeholders to join the NCC in this transformative journey adding that addressing these issues requires not just regulatory tools, but inter-agency cooperation, legislative backing, private sector responsibility, and public awareness.
The NCC boss outlined five pillars for the way forward, including public awareness and community ownership, improved inter-stakeholder collaboration, information sharing, streamlined acquisition and permit processes, and strengthened enforcement and deterrence mechanisms.
Dr. Maida noted that every stakeholder has a collective responsibility to achieve optimal implementation. “Let us commit today to invest, collaborate, and protect,” he said.
“Let us participate actively in shaping a CNII framework that reflects Nigeria’s aspirations. Let us build a digital future that is resilient, inclusive, and unstoppable.”
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