Stakeholders, NCC unveil strategies to protect telecoms infrastructure from cyber threats

At the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, telecom stakeholders including IHS Towers, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) laid out critical strategies to safeguard Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure from escalating cyber threats, theft, and vandalism.

These efforts are pivotal for securing Nigeria’s digital economy, which drives key sectors such as finance, education, and healthcare.

Dapo Otunla, Senior Vice President of IHS Towers, emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to defend these vital assets, now designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

He highlighted IHS’s commitment, including partnerships with the government to equip millions of Nigerians with digital skills and build innovation hubs.

Otunla noted that securing telecom infrastructure is essential for national security and sustained economic growth.

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ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo praised the government’s executive order protecting telecom infrastructure but stressed that a comprehensive Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP) is crucial for real impact.

He called for a secure, centralized database to track telecom assets, and proposed mandatory surveillance of infrastructure nationwide by security agencies.

The NCC’s Deputy Director, Isah Latinwo, assured stakeholders that a protection plan is underway, with a formal release expected before year-end.

This move follows years of sector-wide appeals to safeguard telecom infrastructure, including action against fiber cable damage, which cost MTN Nigeria over N11 billion between 2022 and 2023.

This initiative is seen as a pivotal step toward building a secure, resilient telecommunications network in Nigeria that supports the country’s digital and economic future.