Telecom executives will deliberate on strategies to bolster the safety of critical infrastructure at the seventh edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum.
Themed CNII: Strengthening Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure through Proactive Implementation and Strategic Coordination, the forum will convene telecom operators, regulators, and government agencies to address the protection of critical telecom assets.
The disclosure was made in a statement on Monday by the organisers of the summit, scheduled to take place on March 20, 2025, in Lagos.
The summit follows the recent designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure under an executive order signed by President Bola Tinubu in August.
Industry stakeholders have raised concerns over the vulnerability of telecom assets to theft, vandalism, and arbitrary shutdowns, which they say disrupt services and cause significant financial losses.
The summit would foster dialogue on policy implementation, strategic collaboration, and measures to ensure proactive protection of critical telecom infrastructure, they said.
A statement read, “The Summit will be held at the Bon Hotel Ikeja Residence in Lagos, featuring expert discussions and presentations from invited speakers, including representatives from ONSA, the Nigerian Communications Commission, Galaxy Backbone Limited, and the Federal Ministry of Works.
“Other speakers include data centre operators, infrastructure companies, mobile network operators, tower companies, Internet service providers, telecom lawyers, chiefs of security outfits, and state infrastructure regulatory agencies.”
Lead Executive of PIAFo, Omobayo Azeez, emphasised the importance of safeguarding the telecom sector, citing its crucial role in facilitating cross-industry linkages, efficiency, and productivity.
“The telecom sector is the live wire of the Nigerian economy. If it’s not well-protected, all other sectors will feel the ripples,” Azeez warned, recalling the nationwide telecom service disruption in March 2024 caused by undersea cable cuts with attendant economic losses estimated at $593.6m.
Azeez highlighted the alarming frequency of fibre cuts, with over 50,000 incidents recorded in 2024 alone, resulting in service blackouts and significant repair costs.
“In 2023, operators reported spending over N35bn to repair and replace installed fibre cables that were destroyed. This is a fortune that could have been otherwise committed to infrastructure expansion to improve quality of service,” he added.
To prevent a repeat of such incidents, PIAFo is championing a collaborative approach to infrastructure safety, promoting awareness, inclusivity, and partnerships with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the agency tasked to implement the order, as well as other stakeholders.