The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has raised the alarm that the escalation of vandalism and cyber attacks on telecommunications infrastructure now poses an existential threat to Nigeria’s security architecture, economy and digital future.
Speaking in Abuja at the Second Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Ribadu, represented by Deputy Director of Strategy, Mr. Ezikiel Onibiyo, warned that “telecommunication is no longer merely a support industry; it is the backbone of Nigeria’s economic growth, social inclusion, and national security”.
He called for tougher deterrent penalties for fibre cuts, the establishment of a dedicated infrastructure protection fund, and intelligence-driven operations to track syndicates involved in sabotage of telecom assets.
“From fintech to healthcare, education to e-commerce, every sector depends on reliable, affordable, and secure digital infrastructure. In today’s world, broadband connectivity is no longer a luxury; it is a fundamental right. Without a resilient telecom sector, we cannot achieve the Nigeria we envisage — which is a hub of innovation, youth empowerment, job creation, and security,” he said.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, represented by Air Vice Marshal Felix Uwakara, said cyber threats in modern warfare can be as devastating as physical attacks. “The compromise of such systems, therefore, poses not just operational risks but existential threats to national defence and public safety,” he warned.
Also speaking, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Brig. Gen. Muhammad Lemu, highlighted the dangers of cyber terrorism and organised crime, calling on agencies to sustain collaboration and intelligence sharing.
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, represented by CP Hammad Sule, said the protection of critical national infrastructure could only be achieved through collaboration with relevant agencies, stakeholders and host communities.
“The Nigeria Police Force recognises that threat to our Information Infrastructure is a threat to our sovereignty, economic stability and public safety,” he said.
In his keynote address, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Assistant Director, Compliance Monitoring, Mrs. Chioma Ibeh, said the sector has over 171 million active subscribers and contributed 14.4 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Q4 2024.
He stated that the commission recorded 30 to 43 incidents of fibre cuts daily across the country, noting that telecom disruptions could paralyse emergency responses, financial transactions and public confidence.
Maida said the NCC had begun implementing the June 2024 Presidential Order declaring telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), stressing that efforts were ongoing on infrastructure mapping, state-level coordination on right-of-way and protection plans in conjunction with the Office of the NSA.
In his remarks, ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, urged government and stakeholders to move CNII policy from “paper to protection” by establishing sustainable funding mechanisms, harmonised regulations and clear service restoration timelines.