Nigeria moves to shield $75.6bn telecom sector from rising threats
BY MOTOLANI OSENI
As Nigeria’s telecom sector grows into a $75.6 billion industry, stakeholders are rallying to fortify its critical infrastructure against escalating threats, recognising its indispensable role in driving economic growth and digital transformation.
The 7th edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo), themed ‘CNII: Strengthening Protecticreate This initiative gains urgency following President Bola Tinubu’s August 2024 designation of telecom facilities as critical national assets under the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order.
The sector has suffered increasing incidents of vandalism, theft, cyberattacks, and arbitrary shutdowns, leading to massive financial losses, disruptions in service delivery, and negative ripple effects on businesses and consumers.
According to Lead Executive of PIAFo, Omobayo Azeez, the telecom sector underpins Nigeria’s economy, and any disruption could cripple operations across multiple industries. “The telecom sector is the backbone of modern commerce, banking, and governance. If it remains unprotected, the consequences will be far-reaching,” he warned.
He recalled the nationwide outage in March 2024 caused by undersea cable cuts, which led to an estimated $593.6 million economic loss.
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The scope of infrastructure sabotage has reached alarming levels, with over 50,000 recorded fibre cuts in 2024 alone, resulting in costly repairs and widespread network failures.
Azeez revealed that telecom operators spent over N35 billion last year on restoring damaged infrastructure, funds that could have been invested in network expansion to improve service delivery and broadband penetration.
In response, PIAFo is spearheading a multi-stakeholder strategy to curb these threats through heightened security awareness, enhanced regulatory measures, and strengthened partnerships with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which is tasked with implementing the CNII Order.
The forthcoming summit, endorsed by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), will be held on March 20, 2025, in Lagos. Industry leaders, security experts, and policymakers are expected to deliberate on actionable solutions, ensuring long-term resilience, investment protection, and the continued growth of Nigeria’s telecom sector as a pillar of the digital economy.
With increasing reliance on digital connectivity, stakeholders stress the need for urgent reforms, stricter enforcement of protective measures, and innovative security frameworks to safeguard telecom assets against internal and external threats. By fostering a secure and resilient telecom infrastructure, Nigeria can sustain its economic momentum and technological advancement in the global digital space.
