The Nigerian Communications Commission is pushing for closer collaboration with the judiciary to safeguard telecoms infrastructure and strengthen online safety as Nigeria’s digital economy grows.
Speaking at the 2026 Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in the Telecommunications Sector on Thursday, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida said judges would play a key role in shaping the country’s digital future.
Represented by Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management Rimini Makama, Maida said the theme, “Adjudicating in the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety,” was timely.
Issues around connectivity, cybersecurity, and infrastructure protection, he noted, were now central to national development.
He cited progress in the sector, with broadband penetration rising from 47.7% in 2025 to 54.3% in 2026. Telecom operators also invested over $1 billion in network expansion last year, deploying thousands of new sites to improve coverage.
Despite the gains, Maida warned that telecoms infrastructure remained vulnerable to vandalism, fibre cuts, theft, and sabotage. He said President Bola Tinubu had designated telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure, underscoring their importance to security and the economy.
The NCC is working with security agencies and operators on asset mapping, public sensitisation, and stricter enforcement. Collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, he said, has already disrupted criminal syndicates stealing and reselling telecom equipment.
To curb SIM-related fraud and identity theft, the Commission launched the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System. It has also signed an MoU with the Central Bank of Nigeria and plans deeper work with the EFCC and NIMC.
Maida added that the NCC had reviewed its Internet Code of Practice to address misinformation, hate speech, child exploitation, and data breaches, while balancing innovation with consumer protection.
The two-day workshop will cover infrastructure resilience, artificial intelligence, subscriber identity management, cybersecurity, and internet governance. Maida assured judges of continued capacity-building with the National Judicial Institute to improve justice delivery in digital-related cases.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
