The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which classifies telecommunications facilities as vital national assets requiring maximum protection.
The move follows a successful mediation led by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) that averted a nationwide disruption in telecom services. The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) had planned a strike that would have halted diesel supply to telecom sites, potentially crippling operators’ ability to power their generators and maintain network connectivity.
In the lead-up to the resolution, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu engaged NOGASA leadership in high-level talks, with NCC providing technical and regulatory input to stress the grave implications of service disruption on national security, the economy, and daily life. The strike was eventually suspended, preserving nationwide telecom operations.
“Telecommunications infrastructure is the backbone of our connectivity and digital economy. Any disruption—whether by vandalism, theft, denial of maintenance access, or interruptions in essential supplies—has far-reaching consequences,” Ribadu said.
NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, commended ONSA’s intervention and called for collective responsibility in safeguarding telecom assets. “We will enforce compliance with technical standards and deepen collaboration with stakeholders to ensure infrastructure protection,” he said, adding that mediation remains a powerful tool for preventing service breakdowns.
The Commission reiterated that telecom infrastructure should be treated as a shared national asset enabling communication, business transactions, healthcare access, education, and participation in the global digital economy. It pledged continued coordination with security agencies, industry players, and the public to maintain a resilient and reliable network nationwide.
