The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the judiciary have committed to enhancing their collaboration to ensure connectivity, safeguard critical infrastructure, and bolster online safety as the nation advances into a digital future.
This commitment was made during the inauguration of the 2026 Workshop for Justices and Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications, which was co-organized by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The two-day workshop, conducted in Lagos, assembled Supreme Court justices, judges from federal and state high courts, regulators, and industry stakeholders to discuss the theme: “Adjudicating in the Digital Era:
The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety.”Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, provided a detailed overview of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He disclosed that broadband penetration had increased from 47.7 percent in 2025 to 54.3 percent in 2026, while data consumption had reached record levels.
“In March 2026 alone, Nigerians utilized over 1.42 million terabytes of data, which is equivalent to more than 15 million hours of high-definition video each day,” he stated.Maida, who was represented by Rimini Makama, NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, mentioned that telecom operators had invested over $1 billion in network expansion in the previous year, highlighting the sector’s resilience and its vital contribution to economic growth.
He cautioned that advancements were continually threatened by vandalism, fiber cuts, equipment theft, and sabotage.The EVC emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had classified telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, necessitating comprehensive government protection.
He noted that the NCC was collaborating closely with security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser to dismantle syndicates involved in the theft of telecom equipment.He revealed that the Commission has also initiated the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) to address issues related to SIM card fraud, number recycling, and identity-related abuses.
