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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has renewed its call for nationwide cooperation to safeguard the country’s telecommunications facilities, warning that any disruption could have grave consequences for security, economic growth, and daily life.
The Commission’s position reinforces the Executive Order issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which classifies telecom infrastructure as part of Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and mandates maximum protection.
The renewed advocacy comes after a potentially crippling strike by the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) was halted through a mediation effort jointly spearheaded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the NCC.
NOGASA’s planned action would have cut off diesel supplies to telecom installations nationwide, posing a major threat to operators who rely heavily on diesel-powered generators to keep networks running. Without that supply, millions of Nigerians could have faced severe connectivity disruptions.
In a series of high-level discussions, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, engaged NOGASA’s leadership to highlight the wider implications of such a shutdown.
The NCC provided technical insight into how service interruptions could destabilise critical sectors, from emergency response to financial transactions and e-learning.
“These facilities are the arteries of our communication system,” Ribadu said. “When they are tampered with, whether through theft, vandalism, restricted access for repairs, or a break in supply chains, the impact is felt across every part of society.”
The NCC commended the ONSA for steering the negotiations and acknowledged NOGASA’s willingness to consider the broader national interest.
According to Dr. Aminu Maida, the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, the episode highlights the importance of dialogue in averting service crises.
“We will continue to enforce industry standards and partner with stakeholders to improve infrastructure security. Every Nigerian should understand that protecting telecom assets is protecting our ability to communicate, trade, learn, and live in a connected world,” he said.