Industry leaders have identified important measures to secure telecommunications infrastructure in the country and ensure that investments in the telecoms space are protected.

They argued that as much as the effective implementation of the Executive Order on the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) is important, the Order cannot solely guarantee infrastructure safety except certain internal and standardisation issues are first resolved by operators.

Speaking at the 7th Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) Summit on CNII implementation held Thursday in Lagos, the industry leaders highlighted pressing issues such as infrastructure vandalism, unauthorized installations, and cable theft, while proposing actionable solutions to safeguard the country?s critical national infrastructure.

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), stressed the importance of proper infrastructure maintenance and installation to prevent vandalism and theft.

He highlighted the widespread issue of stolen manhole covers and poles, attributing the problem to poor maintenance practices. ?When properly installed, these components are difficult to remove. However, due to negligence, they are often left unsecured, making them easy targets for theft,? he said

Adebayo also pointed out that community resistance to infrastructure projects has significantly hindered progress. He recounted instances where local communities prevented trucks from accessing sites due to previous unaddressed damages caused by contractors.

?A diesel supplier was blocked from entering an estate because a previous contractor had damaged their property and failed to make repairs. This lack of accountability breeds distrust and delays crucial projects,? he explained.

He urged stakeholders to foster better relationships with communities to prevent such conflicts.

Another critical issue Adebayo identified was the unauthorized installation of infrastructure without government approval, leading to inadvertent damage during road construction projects.

?Government agencies often damage unregistered infrastructure simply because they were not documented in official records. Proper approvals and collaboration with authorities will ensure accountability and protection of critical infrastructure,? he noted.

He called for improved industry coordination to resolve these challenges internally before seeking external solutions that are promised by the CNII provisions.

Echoing these concerns, Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), emphasised the need for standardisation and better coordination among stakeholders.

He pointed out that Nigeria?s infrastructure challenges go beyond technical issues, extending into environmental and moral concerns.

?We are dealing with a moral challenge. An engineer who switched from diesel to gas generators encountered a new problem?workers began stealing engine oil instead, as they could no longer siphon diesel. These issues require both technical and ethical solutions,? he explained.

Emoekpere argued that standardisation is the key to long-term sustainability. ?If infrastructure is deployed in a suboptimal manner, failure is inevitable. We need to establish proper standards that all stakeholders ? government, private sector, and the public ? can align with,? he stated.

He also emphasized that Nigeria has strong policies, such as local content policies, but implementation remains a major challenge. ?We must move beyond discussions and focus on actionable steps, follow-ups, and policy enforcement,? he added.

The importance of addressing cable theft and vandalism was further stressed by Wale Owoeye, CEO of Cedarview Communications Limited.

He described the alarming frequency of cable cuts, which disrupt network operations and drive up maintenance costs.

?Cable theft is a serious issue. Airtel representatives told me they experience a cable cut every six minutes. The assumption that all black cables contain valuable copper leads to reckless vandalism,? he explained.

To combat this growing problem, Owoeye proposed three key approaches, including reorientation, enforcement, and proactive measures.

?We need to engage local communities in their native languages, educating them on the consequences of vandalism. Strict legal penalties, including long-term imprisonment, should be enforced to deter offenders,? he said.

He also emphasized the need for preventive strategies rather than reactive responses. ?Prevention is always more effective and cost-efficient than restoration,? he noted.

As a proactive measure, Owoeye proposed the creation of a dedicated fund to support advocacy and awareness campaigns across Nigeria.

To demonstrate his commitment, he pledged to contribute N500,000 quarterly as a seed fund and encouraged other industry players to follow suit.

?This is like planting a seed. With collective effort, we can grow it into a sustainable solution for protecting Nigeria?s telecom infrastructure,? he said.

The speakers collectively emphasised that addressing these challenges requires collaboration among industry players, government agencies, and local communities.

They called for a concerted effort to enforce policies, engage stakeholders, and implement practical solutions that will ensure the long-term sustainability of Nigeria?s telecommunication infrastructure.

?PHOTO: L-R; Associate Director, Government Relations, IHS Nigeria, Bond Abbe; Co-founder, Infratel Africa, Dr. Tola Yusuf; Group Chief Operating Officer, WTES Projects Limited, Chidi Ajuzie; President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere; National Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); Engr. Gbenga Adebayo; and Convener, Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo), Omobayo Azeez at the seventh edition of PIAFo on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order Implementation held on Thursday in Lagos.

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