NCC Seeks Collaboration with NJI on Telecoms Infrastructure Protection, Online Safety

Concerned about the ongoing threats to the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a partnership with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to tackle legal challenges in the sector.

The announcement was made in Lagos yesterday during the opening ceremony of a two‑day workshop for judges focused on legal matters in telecommunications, organized by the NCC.

In his welcome address, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida noted that although the telecoms sector has made significant progress—particularly in investment and network expansion, with broadband penetration rising from 47.70 % in 2025 to 54.30 % in 2026—ongoing attacks on infrastructure threaten to undo these gains.

He described the workshop, titled “Adjudicating in the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety,” as a platform that highlights both the challenges and opportunities facing the telecoms industry and its broader impact on the digital economy.

“The theme of this workshop rightly underscores the judiciary’s role in three critical areas: connectivity, infrastructure protection, and online safety. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially designated telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which means that these assets must receive protection from the entire government and society, given their essential importance to daily life,” Maida said.

“Despite this designation, we continue to see alarming levels of vandalism, fibre cuts, equipment theft, and sabotage that disrupt services for millions of citizens and compromise national security,” he added.

Maida emphasized that judges are increasingly called upon to interpret laws, adjudicate disputes, and set precedents that will shape how these complex issues are resolved. “Your decisions will influence regulatory certainty for investors and the overall trust in our digital ecosystem,” he said.

Chief Idris Olorunimbe, Chairman of the NCC Board of Commissioners, highlighted that the workshop offers a timely opportunity for constructive dialogue among the judiciary, regulators, law enforcement, policymakers, and industry operators on the legal and governance challenges within the digital ecosystem.

He urged the judiciary to keep pace with 5G deployment in order to legally address the rapid and destructive attacks on telecoms infrastructure.

Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, remarked that the judiciary must balance freedom of expression with privacy and security demands. “Executing this delicate duty requires a sophisticated understanding of the telecommunications environment, precise interpretation of evolving statutes, and ongoing recognition of how intersecting rights shape Nigeria’s digital trajectory,” he said. “The workshop serves as a vital forum for analysing these emerging complexities within the sector.”

In her keynote, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere‑Ekun—represented by Supreme Court Judge Musa Saulawa—stressed that technological innovation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, compelling legal systems worldwide to address new questions of regulation, accountability, rights protection, and institutional responsibility in the digital space.

“The judiciary cannot remain detached from these developments. The law must respond to changing realities while preserving the principles that sustain justice and social order,” she said. She added that experiences from other jurisdictions demonstrate the judiciary’s growing role in shaping the legal framework of the digital age, and that in Nigeria, judicial preparedness is especially critical due to the rapid pace of technological expansion.