WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Stakeholders in the telecommunications sector in Nigeria have resolved to establish a working group dedicated to addressing key industry challenges, including the vandalization and theft of infrastructure, arbitrary shutdown of base stations, fibre cuts due to road construction and the denial of access by unauthorized individuals by leveraging technology for real-time monitoring and protection, strengthening security measures around telecommunication sites and collaborating more with the security and regulatory agencies to mitigate these challenges. This followed extensive deliberations at an event organised by IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited, to develop a multi-stakeholder action plan for the protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) assets in Lagos State. The stakeholders underscored the need to prioritize deterrence and prevention of these incidents and highlighted the importance of public awareness campaigns to sensitize the host communities and public of the need to protect telecommunications infrastructure in their localities. “The protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) has been a critical concern for all industry stakeholders. “We are experiencing daily losses of assets, which significantly impact on the quality of service delivered to subscribers. “Addressing these issues is paramount to sustaining Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and meeting regulatory expectations,” the Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer of HIS Nigeria, Mr Dapo Otunla, stated. Recognizing the importance of communications infrastructure as the backbone of national security, economic growth and social cohesion, the stakeholders at the meeting convened under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) agreed on the urgent need for collaborative solutions to ensure the protection of these vital assets. The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the telecommunications stakeholder groups and regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA). Also in attendance were representatives from the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and InfraCos as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the security agency tasked with the protection of Critical National Infrastructure across the country.
Stakeholders Move to Tackle Vandalization of Telecommunications Infrastructure
