At FiBOP 2025, NCC’s Dr. Aminu Maida Advocates Cyber Resilience and CNII Protection to Power Nigeria’s $1 Trillion Economy

Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),

The conversation on Nigeria’s digital future took centre stage at the Finance and Business Online Publishers (FiBOP) 2025 Conference held today in Lagos, as Babatunde Apeji, who represented Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), delivered a profound keynote address titled “Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and Building Industry Resilience as a Crucial Component of the Commission’s Contribution to Achieving a $1 Trillion Economy.”

The EVC’s speech delivered a powerful message of urgency and vision, placing digital infrastructure protection and resilience at the very core of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.

Digital Backbone of a Trillion-Dollar Economy

Dr. Maida, through his representative, reminded the audience that while national conversations around achieving a $1 trillion economy often emphasize oil, agriculture, or manufacturing, the real driver of modern economic strength lies in digital connectivity.

“From financial transactions to healthcare data, e-learning, e-commerce, and national security, Nigeria’s progress depends on the resilience of its communication networks,” Apeji quoted Maida as saying. “Our Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) is not just about technology,  it is about sovereignty, stability, and survival.”

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, Q2 2025), telecommunications currently contributes over 15% to Nigeria’s GDP. However, Maida emphasized that the sector’s influence transcends figures, describing it as “the nervous system of the Nigerian economy.”

Mounting Threats to Digital Infrastructure

While Nigeria’s digital economy expands, so do the threats. NCC Boss disclosed that between January and August 2025, operators across the telecom sector recorded more than 26,000 cases of fibre cuts, vandalism, and theft — attacks that disrupt communication, commerce, and financial services.

He added that cyberattacks, ransomware, and hacking incidents have become more frequent and sophisticated, targeting telecom and financial networks with devastating economic implications.

“The message is clear,” Maida said. “Defending CNII is defending the economy of Nigeria.”

NCC’s Multi-Pronged Strategy to Protect CNII

In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed economic and digital transformation directive, and under the Cybersecurity Act, the NCC has designated all telecom infrastructure as national security assets.
Dr. Maida, through his representative, outlined the Commission’s five-pronged approach to CNII protection:

1. Regulation, Compliance & Enforcement — Setting robust rules and ensuring all licensees comply to safeguard national assets.
2. Publicity, Awareness & Education — Rolling out sensitization campaigns across traditional and digital media to educate Nigerians on the importance of protecting telecom infrastructure.
3. Collaboration — Strengthening partnerships with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), NSCDC, Police, State Governments, Ministry of Works, and utility providers.
4. Mediation — Engaging stakeholders to resolve disputes such as right-of-way and inter-sector conflicts that delay infrastructure protection.
5. Use of Force as Last Resort — Applying legal and security measures where sabotage or vandalism persists.

“These measures reflect NCC’s layered approach,” Maida explained, “ensuring we not only secure the present but also prepare for a more resilient digital future.”

From Protection to Resilience

Dr. Maida emphasized that protection alone is not enough; Nigeria must aim for network resilience — systems that can withstand disruptions and recover swiftly.
To this end, the Commission is implementing strategic frameworks such as:

• Telecoms Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Guidelines to ensure preparedness and consumer protection during crises.
• Sectoral Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and an upcoming Cybersecurity Framework for the Telecom Industry, designed to anticipate and mitigate threats.
• Major Network Outage Portal, where operators report significant service disruptions for prompt response and consumer accountability.
• Enhanced Infrastructure Standards, requiring stronger tower designs, redundant power systems, and solar backup in rural areas to maintain connectivity.

Cross-Sector Partnerships for Resilient Networks

Maida highlighted that achieving true resilience requires collaboration beyond the telecom industry. The NCC is partnering with:

• The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) — to secure mobile banking and cashless transactions.
• The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) — to enhance power reliability for telecom sites.
• State governments and local communities — to secure fibre and tower sites under the CNII Presidential Order.

The Commission is also promoting redundancy by design, encouraging multiple fibre routes and stronger Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to ensure that no single network failure cripples national connectivity.

Call to National Duty

In a firm call to action, Dr. Maida urged all stakeholders, government, operators, security agencies, and citizens, to unite in safeguarding the nation’s digital assets.

“Government must prioritise CNII in national infrastructure planning.
Security agencies must treat telecom facilities with the same urgency as oil and power assets.
Operators must invest in redundancy and cross-sector cooperation.
And communities must view telecom masts and cables as lifelines, not targets,” Maida declared.

EVC further revealed that the NCC, in partnership with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and supported by the World Bank, recently held a two-day Business Roundtable on improving broadband investment and securing CNII, marking a pivotal step in fostering shared responsibility for Nigeria’s digital growth.

Building a Secure Path to a Trillion-Dollar Future

The FiBOP 2025 Conference reaffirmed that Nigeria’s dream of a $1 trillion economy is inseparable from the resilience of its digital backbone.
Dr. Maida’s address served as a reminder that telecom infrastructure is not just a service sector, but the lifeline of national productivity, innovation, and security.

“Protecting CNII is not just about keeping the internet on — it is about securing the nation’s economic future. Together, we can safeguard Nigeria’s digital foundation and power the trillion-dollar economy we all envision.”

At the 2025 FiBOP Conference, NCC CEO Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Babatunde Apeji ,emphasized the protection and resilience of Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) as vital to achieving a $1 trillion economy. He outlined the NCC’s five-pronged strategy, partnerships, and cybersecurity initiatives aimed at securing the nation’s digital backbone.