Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is leading the charge to implement the Presidential Order that designates telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

Under the leadership of Executive Vice-Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida, the Commission is executing a multi-pronged strategy that includes nationwide asset mapping, a comprehensive protection framework, and grassroots awareness campaigns aimed at fostering public ownership of digital infrastructure.

Dr. Maida described the Presidential Order as a watershed moment for Nigeria’s digital economy, recognizing the telecom sector as vital to national security, economic resilience, and governance. With over 171 million mobile subscribers and a teledensity of 79.22% as of June 2025, Nigeria’s telecom backbone powers everything from remote education and e-commerce to healthcare access and financial inclusion.

Yet, this critical infrastructure faces mounting threats—from cyber intrusions and physical sabotage to policy fragmentation and infrastructural duplication. To counter these risks, the NCC is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to prevent unauthorized access and bolster cybersecurity defenses.

The Commission is also engaging state governments to harmonize CNII protection policies across all tiers of governance, ensuring a unified national response.

Public engagement is a cornerstone of the NCC’s approach. Through targeted campaigns, the Commission is educating communities about their role in safeguarding telecom assets, emphasizing that digital security is a shared responsibility.

Dr. Maida urged stakeholders—from industry leaders and policymakers to everyday citizens—to rally behind this mission, declaring that the integrity of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is “non-negotiable.”

Ultimately, the NCC’s efforts aim to build a digitally secure Nigeria—where infrastructure is not only protected but also serves as a springboard for innovation, economic empowerment, and global competitiveness.

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Yet, this critical infrastructure faces mounting threats—from cyber intrusions and physical sabotage to policy fragmentation and infrastructural duplication. To counter these risks, the NCC is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to prevent unauthorized access and bolster cybersecurity defenses.

The Commission is also engaging state governments to harmonize CNII protection policies across all tiers of governance, ensuring a unified national response.

Public engagement is a cornerstone of the NCC’s approach. Through targeted campaigns, the Commission is educating communities about their role in safeguarding telecom assets, emphasizing that digital security is a shared responsibility.

Dr. Maida urged stakeholders—from industry leaders and policymakers to everyday citizens—to rally behind this mission, declaring that the integrity of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is “non-negotiable.”

Ultimately, the NCC’s efforts aim to build a digitally secure Nigeria—where infrastructure is not only protected but also serves as a springboard for innovation, economic empowerment, and global competitiveness.

Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that the new pricing regime in the sector has already attracted over $1 billion in fresh infrastructure investments this year, few months after it took effect.

He stated this yesterday during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos. According to him, the policy introduced in February gave mobile network operators (MNOs) the green light to adjust tariffs by up to 50% after nearly a decade of stagnant pricing.

“This act alone, has allowed investments to flow in. We will be revealing more specific figures in the coming weeks after verification, but we are talking about over a billion dollars’ worth of investment in 2025 alone,” he said.

Maida explained that the new pricing regime has reversed years of under-investment that slowed network expansion and weakened service quality. He pointed out that before now, the value chain was lopsided—tower companies could adjust prices annually for inflation and FX rates, but MNOs were stuck with fixed tariffs.

“This is an industry that requires continuous investment. The world is moving ahead, and if we do not create the right conditions, we will be left behind,” he warned.

The decision, he added, aligns with the guiding principles of the 2000 Telecom Policy and the 2003 Communications Act, which favour market-driven pricing while ensuring healthy competition and consumer protection.

According to Maida, the benefits of the policy are already visible. Equipment ordered by operators has been arriving since June, with network expansion and upgrade works in progress nationwide.

“We are closely tracking the rollout. We hold weekly calls with operators to monitor site builds, upgrades, and to step in when they face challenges with authorities,” he said.

The EVC of NCC believes these investments will help boost capacity, improve service quality, and keep Nigeria competitive in the global telecom arena.

While the investment news is positive, Maida didn’t shy away from highlighting the operational cost pressures confronting operators.

He said the sector burns through over 40 million litres of diesel monthly, most of it imported, to power base stations.

On top of that, the industry is heavily dependent on FX for all network hardware and software imports, as there’s no local manufacturing of major telecom equipment.

“There is nothing you need to build or upgrade a network today in Nigeria that you can buy locally,” Maida stated.