Telecom operators in Nigeria have launched an Industry Working Group to safeguard critical telecommunications infrastructure across the country. This move comes in response to escalating cases of fiber cuts, equipment theft, and vandalism, which have significantly disrupted services and increased operational costs.
The Working Group was established during a high-level meeting hosted by IHS Nigeria in Lagos, bringing together industry leaders, regulators, and law enforcement agencies under the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). Recognizing telecom infrastructure as vital for national security, economic growth, and social cohesion, stakeholders emphasized the urgency of collaborative solutions to address these challenges.
Key Objectives of the Working Group:
Real-time Monitoring: Leveraging advanced technology to monitor and protect telecom sites.
Enhanced Security: Strengthening physical security measures around installations.
Collaboration: Partnering with regulatory and security agencies to tackle vandalism and theft.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating communities on the importance of safeguarding telecom assets.
Dapo Otunla, Senior Vice President at IHS Nigeria, highlighted the daily losses faced by operators due to vandalism, stressing that protecting Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) is essential for sustaining Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
This initiative aligns with the government’s CNII policy. In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed an order designating telecom infrastructure as critical national assets and criminalizing their destruction. However, previous efforts to enforce similar protections have struggled to curb widespread vandalism.
