NCC, Police forge stronger alliance to protect telecom infrastructure nationwide

The Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, alongside the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, on Thursday paid a strategic visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The high-level meeting, held at Louis Edet House, centred on strengthening collaboration between the NCC and the Nigeria Police Force to enhance the protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

According to officials familiar with the discussions, both institutions reviewed existing security arrangements and explored additional measures to safeguard telecom assets deemed essential to Nigeria’s economic growth, digital transformation, and national security.

A major focus of the engagement was the implementation of the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which designates key digital and communications facilities as strategic national assets requiring enhanced protection against vandalism, sabotage, and other security threats.

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The NCC leadership emphasised that telecommunications infrastructure — including fibre optic cables, base stations, switching centres, and data facilities — forms the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.

Disruptions to these assets, they noted, can have far-reaching consequences for financial services, emergency response systems, government operations, and everyday communication.

Both parties agreed on the need for improved intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement actions, and proactive measures to deter criminal activities targeting telecom installations. Discussions also addressed the importance of aligning efforts with Nigeria’s broader security architecture to ensure network resilience nationwide.

The visit underscores the NCC’s ongoing drive for stronger inter-agency cooperation as it advances initiatives aimed at expanding broadband penetration and digital inclusion.

With telecommunications infrastructure increasingly recognised as critical national infrastructure, collaboration between regulators and security agencies is seen as pivotal to sustaining investor confidence and safeguarding public access to reliable connectivity.

Industry observers say the strengthened partnership signals a coordinated approach to protecting assets that underpin Nigeria’s digital economy and broader national development objectives.