FG declares that telecommunications facilities are critical national infrastructure

… Urges mobile operators to reduce the price of data, calls citizens

In response to the wishes of industry stakeholders to declare telecommunications facilities Critical National Infrastructure, President Muhammadu Buhari finally approved and also ordered that the necessary physical protection measures be established to safeguard the telecommunications infrastructure deployed throughout the country.

This followed a proposal by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ibrahim Pantami, to the President to identify the telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, in order to protect them against vandalism and theft, among other things.

Remember that telecommunications operators and industry players have been consistent over the years in their demand that the federal government declare all telecommunications facilities across the country as critical national infrastructure, but their request was never honored , which led to frequent acts of vandalism of the telecommunications infrastructure in various parts of the country.

Nigeria’s telecommunications industry depends on a number of infrastructures that play a critical role in the smooth delivery of telecommunications services.

These are part of the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) due to the important role they play, to guarantee security and the provision of other essential services.

As part of the policy of the Nigerian Federal Government, the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, decided to defend the efforts to identify the telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, in order to protect them. vandalism and theft, among other things.

The Minister, who revealed this in a statement Tuesday, noted that the current COVID-19 pandemic has led to a massive migration to digital platforms and has increased the level of importance of the Critical National Infrastructure for the sustenance of our economy and security. of the NATION.

“The Minister is pleased to inform stakeholders in the telecommunications industry that President Muhammadu Buhari approved and also ordered that the necessary physical protection measures be implemented to safeguard the telecommunications infrastructure deployed across the country,” said the statement.

With the presidential directive, the Minister said that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Defense Headquarters (DHQ), the Nigerian Police (NPF), the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Corps Nigerian Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC)), have been notified of the President’s directive and are expected to enforce it as indicated

While appreciating security institutions and congratulating them on their commitment to securing this infrastructure, he noted that the ministry is also working to reinforce the directives through appropriate regulatory instruments.

“The implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, both presented by the President, have repositioned the ICT sector.

“This is evident from the recent” Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report “published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which showed that the ICT sector contributed an unprecedented 14.07% to total real GDP in the first quarter of 2020.

“The Minister is truly grateful for the timely approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, and we are confident that this will address the challenge of vandalism of our Critical National Infrastructure.

“It will also contribute greatly to supporting the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025),” said the Minister.

However, he urged mobile network operators (MNOs) to ensure that they further reduce the price of data and calls on citizens to reciprocate the government’s gesture.

He also advised them to submit a complete list of their facility locations across the country.