Telecom industry leaders have emphasized the need for comprehensive measures beyond the Executive Order on the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) to secure telecommunications investments in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 7th Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) Summit on CNII implementation in Lagos, stakeholders highlighted challenges such as infrastructure vandalism, unauthorized installations, and cable theft. They stressed the importance of internal standardization, policy enforcement, and community engagement to ensure the protection of critical telecom infrastructure.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), underscored the need for proper infrastructure maintenance and installation to prevent vandalism and theft. He noted that stolen manhole covers and poles often result from negligence, making them easy targets.
He also raised concerns about community resistance to infrastructure projects due to past damages caused by contractors. “A diesel supplier was blocked from entering an estate because a previous contractor had damaged property and failed to make repairs. This lack of accountability breeds distrust and delays crucial projects,” he said.
Adebayo further highlighted the issue of unauthorized infrastructure installations, which often lead to accidental damage during government road projects. He called for better industry coordination and collaboration with authorities to document and protect telecom assets.
Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), stressed the need for standardization and improved stakeholder coordination. He pointed out that Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges extend beyond technical concerns to include moral issues.
“We are dealing with a moral challenge. An engineer who switched from diesel to gas generators encountered a new problem—workers began stealing engine oil instead. These issues require both technical and ethical solutions,” he explained.
Emoekpere emphasized that while Nigeria has strong policies, poor implementation remains a significant challenge. He called for a shift from discussions to actionable steps, including policy enforcement and follow-ups.
Wale Owoeye, CEO of Cedarview Communications Limited, raised concerns about the increasing frequency of cable theft, which disrupts network operations and increases maintenance costs. He revealed that Airtel experiences a cable cut every six minutes due to vandalism, often driven by the misconception that all black cables contain valuable copper.
To tackle this issue, Owoeye proposed three key approaches: reorientation, enforcement, and proactive measures. He advocated for educating local communities in their native languages on the consequences of vandalism, enforcing strict legal penalties, and adopting preventive strategies rather than reactive responses.
As part of a proactive solution, he announced a quarterly contribution of N500,000 towards an industry-wide fund to support advocacy and awareness campaigns, encouraging other stakeholders to do the same.
The summit participants collectively called for increased collaboration between telecom operators, government agencies, and local communities. They urged stronger policy enforcement, stakeholder engagement, and practical solutions to safeguard Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure and ensure long-term industry sustainability.