By Dwelleth Morountodun
President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the request by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Ibrahim Pantami,
that critical telecommunication infrastructure be fully secured because of the critical role they play in national development.
The Minister’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, in a statement made available to the media on Tuesday, said Nigerian telecommunications industry depends on a number of infrastructure that play a critical role in the smooth delivery of telecoms services.
These according to her are part of critical national infrastructure because of the important role they play, in ensuring security and in the delivery of other essential services.
She said that as part of the policy of the federal government of the Minister has ramped up efforts to identify telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, with a view to protecting them from vandalization and theft amongst other things.
On COVID-19, she said: “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a massive migration to digital platforms and has increased the level of importance of critical national infrastructure to the sustenance of our economy and the security of the nation.
The Minister is delighted to inform stakeholders in the telecommunications industry that President Buhari, has approved and also directed that necessary physical protective measures be emplaced to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure deployed across the country.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been notified of the President’s directive, the statement added.
She said: “Pantami specially appreciates the security institutions and commends the commitment they have demonstrated in securing these infrastructure.
“The implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, both unveiled by the President, have repositioned the ICT sector.
“This is evident by the recent Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product Report’ released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which showed that the ICT sector contributed an unprecedented 14.07% to the total real GDP in the first quarter of 2020.”
According to the Minister, this approval will also go a long way in supporting the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025).
The statement said: “Finally, the federal government strongly urges the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to ensure that they further reduce the price of data and calls for citizens.
“This is to reciprocate this gesture, and to submit a comprehensive list of their facility locations all over the country.”