Industry leaders have called for enhanced measures to protect Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, stressing that the Executive Order on the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) alone is insufficient without internal reforms and standardization among operators.
Speaking at the 7th Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) Summit on CNII implementation held Thursday in Lagos, stakeholders highlighted critical challenges, including infrastructure vandalism, unauthorized installations, and cable theft, while proposing solutions to safeguard telecom investments.
Gbenga Adebayo Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), emphasized the urgent need for proper infrastructure maintenance and installation to prevent theft and damage. He cited widespread issues such as stolen manhole covers and poles, attributing the problem to negligence.
“When properly installed, these components are difficult to remove. However, due to poor maintenance, they are often left unsecured, making them easy targets for theft,” Adebayo stated.
He also raised concerns about community resistance to telecom projects, noting that some communities block access to sites due to unresolved damages caused by contractors.
“A diesel supplier was prevented from entering an estate because a previous contractor damaged their property and failed to make repairs. This lack of accountability breeds distrust and delays crucial projects,” he explained, urging operators to strengthen community relations.
Adebayo further warned about the dangers of unapproved infrastructure installations, which often lead to damage during road construction projects.
“Government agencies inadvertently destroy unregistered telecom infrastructure because they do not appear in official records. Proper documentation and collaboration with authorities will ensure protection,” he noted, calling for improved industry coordination before relying solely on CNII protections.
Echoing Adebayo’s views, Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), stressed the need for industry-wide standardization.
“Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges are not just technical; they include environmental and moral concerns. An engineer who switched from diesel to gas generators found that workers began stealing engine oil instead. These issues require both technical and ethical solutions,” he said.
Emoekpere emphasized that standardization is essential for sustainability, urging all stakeholders—government, private sector, and the public—to align on best practices.
Wale Owoeye, CEO of Cedarview Communications Limited, highlighted the alarming rate of cable theft, revealing that Airtel experiences a cable cut every six minutes.
“The assumption that all black cables contain valuable copper leads to reckless vandalism,” he explained.
To tackle this challenge, Owoeye proposed three key solutions: community engagement in local languages, strict legal penalties, and proactive preventive measures.
“Prevention is always more effective and cost-efficient than restoration. We must educate communities on the consequences of vandalism and enforce strict legal penalties, including long-term imprisonment, to deter offenders,” he said.
To support advocacy and awareness campaigns, Owoeye pledged N500,000 quarterly as a seed fund and encouraged other industry players to contribute.
“This is like planting a seed. With collective effort, we can grow it into a sustainable solution for protecting Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure,” he stated.
The speakers collectively emphasized that addressing these challenges requires collaboration among industry players, government agencies, and local communities. They called for strict policy enforcement, proactive engagement, and practical solutions to ensure the long-term security of Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.
