But Techeconomy analysts say the initiative represents something deeper: the beginning of a stricter regulatory phase in Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure governance, one that could reshape how fibre optic cables and telecom facilities are deployed nationwide.

The cleanup exercise, which began around Toyin Street, Ikeja, exposed widespread cases of improperly installed aerial fibre cables hanging dangerously on poles, gates, gutters, and close to public walkways.

Regulators described some of the exposed cables as live infrastructure capable of endangering public safety, affecting city aesthetics, and contributing to poor quality of service experienced by subscribers.

Why the Cleanup Matters

For years, Lagos residents have complained about indiscriminate deployment of telecom cables across streets, estates, business districts, and utility corridors.

As broadband expansion accelerated, driven by rising internet demand, fintech growth, streaming services, cloud computing, remote work, and enterprise connectivity, operators raced to deploy fibre infrastructure rapidly, sometimes with limited coordination, poor documentation, and weak compliance oversight.

The result has been what many urban planners describe as infrastructure disorder, loose cables tied across poles, exposed fibre lines crossing roads, poorly managed ducts, and installations that compromise both safety and urban planning objectives.

The latest action suggests regulators are no longer willing to tolerate those practices.

According to officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission, neglecting telecom infrastructure deployment standards exposes Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNI) to damage and contributes to service instability and network outages.

That position is significant because telecom infrastructure is increasingly being treated as strategic national infrastructure tied directly to economic productivity, digital finance, public services, and national security.

From Broadband Expansion to Infrastructure Standardisation

Over the past decade, Nigeria’s telecom policy focus largely revolved around broadband penetration and network expansion.

The government pushed aggressively for fibre rollout, tower expansion, digital inclusion, and deeper connectivity across underserved communities.

However, the Lagos cleanup initiative indicates that regulators may now be entering a second phase: infrastructure standardisation, compliance enforcement, and urban integration.

This transition reflects growing concern among policymakers that uncontrolled fibre deployment could create long-term risks for smart city planning, transportation projects, environmental sustainability, public safety, and infrastructure resilience.

Industry stakeholders also acknowledge that poor coordination has become a major operational challenge.

Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, the president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, has also warned that fibre cuts caused by road construction, excavation activities, and infrastructure vandalism continue to disrupt network quality nationwide.

According to industry estimates, operators record thousands of fibre cuts annually, leading to service outages, degraded internet quality, enterprise disruptions, and billions of naira in financial losses.

The implication is increasingly clear: poorly coordinated telecom deployment is no longer just a technical issue; it is an economic and governance challenge.

Likely Policy Moves by NCC and LASIMRA

1. Stricter Approval Frameworks for Fibre Deployment

Industry observers expect regulators to tighten approval processes for both aerial and underground fibre installations, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

Operators may increasingly be required to submit detailed deployment maps, engineering plans, environmental compliance reports, and infrastructure safety documentation before approvals are granted.

This could significantly reduce the era of informal or hurried cable deployment.

2. Mandatory Telecom Infrastructure Audits

The cleanup exercise could evolve into periodic infrastructure compliance audits across Lagos and eventually other states.

Our prediction is that regulators may begin creating comprehensive databases of fibre routes, utility corridors, underground ducts, tower infrastructure, and abandoned telecom assets.

Such audits would help improve planning coordination and reduce accidental infrastructure damage during road projects and urban development works.

3. Tougher Enforcement and Sanctions

Although the current operation has been presented as corrective and collaborative, analysts expect stricter enforcement measures to follow.

Future violations could attract sanctions, infrastructure removal orders, financial penalties, redeployment obligations, or restrictions on future deployment approvals.

This would represent a major shift from the historically weak enforcement environment that has characterized parts of the telecom infrastructure ecosystem.

4. Push toward Shared Duct Infrastructure

One of the likely long-term outcomes is increased regulatory pressure for operators to adopt shared duct systems instead of indiscriminate aerial cabling.

Shared duct infrastructure is increasingly viewed as critical for reducing visual pollution, lowering deployment duplication, improving maintenance coordination, and supporting smart city development.

Lagos State has previously explored unified duct infrastructure initiatives, and the current cleanup exercise may accelerate those discussions.

5. Stronger Coordination with Road Construction Agencies

A recurring problem within Nigeria’s telecom sector is the frequent destruction of fibre infrastructure during road construction and excavation projects.

From our analysis, regulators may therefore push for mandatory coordination frameworks involving telecom operators, ministries of works, urban planning agencies, utility providers, and local authorities.  Such frameworks could include compulsory infrastructure mapping and pre-excavation notification systems before road projects commence.

6. Nationwide Replication beyond Lagos

Although Lagos currently serves as the pilot location, there are indications that similar exercises could spread to other states.

Cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Ibadan may eventually witness similar enforcement operations as regulators attempt to standardise telecom infrastructure governance nationally.

The Industry’s Dilemma

For telecom operators, however, the issue is more complicated than regulation alone.

Operators continue to battle high right-of-way charges, multiple taxation, diesel price increases, forex instability, infrastructure theft, vandalism, and rising operational costs. In many instances, aerial fibre deployment became the fastest and cheapest option for rapid broadband expansion in environments where underground duct infrastructure remains limited or expensive.

This creates a delicate balancing act for policymakers.On one hand, regulators want cleaner, safer, and more coordinated deployments. On the other hand, operators face pressure to expand broadband access quickly, reduce connectivity gaps, and support Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions.

The challenge for regulators will be designing compliance frameworks that improve standards without slowing broadband penetration or discouraging infrastructure investment.

Why this Matters for Nigeria’s Digital Economy

Nigeria’s digital economy is increasingly dependent on reliable telecom infrastructure.

Fintech transactions, cloud services, e-commerce, streaming platforms, AI systems, digital education, smart governance initiatives, and enterprise operations all rely heavily on stable connectivity.

As data consumption rises rapidly, fibre infrastructure is becoming as strategically important as roads, power systems, and transportation networks.

That reality is forcing regulators to rethink how telecom infrastructure is deployed, protected, and governed.

The Lagos cleanup initiative therefore represents more than environmental enforcement.

It signals a broader policy evolution, one where telecom infrastructure is no longer treated as informal utility deployment, but as critical national infrastructure requiring planning, regulation, standardisation, protection, and long-term sustainability.

A Defining Moment for Telecom Governance

For the Nigerian Communications Commission and Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, the message appears increasingly clear: Broadband expansion can no longer happen without orderliness, safety, infrastructure discipline, and urban coordination.

The next phase of Nigeria’s digital transformation may therefore depend not only on how much fibre is deployed, but also on how responsibly, safely, and sustainably that infrastructure is managed. We recommend that all stakeholder should join hands to ensure the proerly deployment of the infrastrcture as against dumping the blames on the door steps of the regulators alone.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television monitored by Techeconomy, Emoekpere said telecom assets including fibre optic cables, base stations, power generators, and transmission equipment remain critical national infrastructure that must be safeguarded against vandalism, theft, and accidental damage.

According to him, recurring fibre cuts, destruction of telecom facilities during road construction activities, and vandalism of installations continue to significantly disrupt network services experienced by millions of subscribers nationwide.

“Telecommunications infrastructure is not just for the operators; it is infrastructure that supports the entire economy, businesses, security systems, financial services, education, and digital communication,” he said.

Nigeria’s active internet subscriber base recorded a modest increase in March 2026, climbing to 153.15 million from 152.48 million in February, according to the latest figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission, while broadband penetration stands above 54.30 per cent.

Industry stakeholders, however, say network quality challenges remain a major concern due to infrastructure damage and operational constraints.

Emoekpere noted that fibre optic cable cuts have become increasingly frequent across several parts of the country, often caused by road construction projects, excavation activities, and urban infrastructure works carried out without proper coordination with telecom operators.

Industry data indicates that operators record thousands of fibre cuts annually, leading to service outages, degraded internet quality, dropped calls, and financial losses running into billions of naira.

The ATCON president also highlighted the growing cases of theft of telecom equipment, including batteries, diesel, and power systems at base stations, warning that such incidents continue to affect network availability, especially in remote and underserved communities.

Techeconomy had reported telecom infrastructure theft is increasing in Nigeria, with new data showing that 656 generators and batteries were stolen from network sites in 2025.

Figures from the NCC show 152 generators and 504 batteries were taken within the year and the rate has not reduced since then.

In the first two months of 2026, operators reported 64 stolen batteries and 17 generators.

The ATCON President, therefore, urged residents, community leaders, contractors, and government agencies to support telecom operators by promptly reporting suspicious activities around telecom facilities and ensuring that infrastructure within their neighbourhoods is protected.

According to him, improving telecom service quality in Nigeria requires stronger collaboration between operators, government institutions, infrastructure agencies, and citizens.

“The protection of telecom assets is essential for sustaining reliable connectivity and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy aspirations,” Emoekpere stated.

The Federal Government had earlier designated telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure under the country’s cybersecurity framework, while industry stakeholders continue to advocate stricter enforcement measures and improved coordination among public agencies to reduce infrastructure damage.

Experts say reliable telecommunications infrastructure remains central to Nigeria’s digital transformation ambitions, including financial inclusion, e-commerce growth, e-government services, smart city initiatives, and the expansion of emerging technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence.

Held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, on Wednesday, October 22, the event convened leading voices from government, telecommunications, power, and technology sectors to discuss solutions for expanding digital access to unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.

The Summit, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide: Accelerating Rural Connectivity Through Collaboration,” was organised by Business Metrics in partnership with stakeholders across the industry.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), noted that the real measure of connectivity lies in its economic impact rather than technical metrics.

“The accurate measure of connectivity is not in megabits per second, but in economic value it creates or loses,” Maida said.

He noted that despite progress since 2001, millions of Nigerians are still digitally invisible, unable to access reliable broadband, mobile, or data services that now define inclusion in the modern economy.

In his address, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), drew attention to the underlying infrastructure gaps that hinder connectivity.

“80 million Nigerians do not have access to reliable electricity,” he stated, warning that without addressing energy poverty, telecom expansion will continue to face obstacles.

Adebayo further stressed that connectivity must be pursued as a people-centred mission.

“48 million Nigerians do not have access to toilets,” he said. “When we talk about inclusion, it’s not just digital; it’s about dignity.”

The President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere, called for urgent transition from dialogue to execution.

“We need to move away from talk shops into actions,” he stated. “This Summit should not end with resolutions; it must produce measurable results.”

Speakers from across the ecosystem, including the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), highlighted ongoing collaborations with NCC to power rural telecom sites using renewable energy mini-grids. 

This partnership aims to reduce costs and improve sustainability by pairing electricity access with digital connectivity.

Dr Tola Yusuf, chief executive officer of Infratel Africa, linked infrastructure to development outcomes.

“The backbone of rural prosperity is digital connectivity, but the backbone of connectivity is the right incentive structure,” he said, calling for fiscal incentives, public-private partnerships, and community-led models.

Dr Olusola Teniola, former ATCON President and executive director at ipNX, reiterated the urgency of implementation.

“It does remain a talk shop, and I’m tired of talk shops nowadays. We need action,” he said.

The Summit’s panel sessions explored multiple dimensions of the challenge and produced several key insights:

The first panel, focused on Mainstreaming Edge Infrastructure for Accelerated Inclusion.

Moderated by Chidi Ajuzie, group COO, Western Telecoms & Engineering (WTES) Limited, panellists included Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO, Open Access Data Centre (OADC); Wole Abu, MD, Equinix West Africa (MainOne); Dr. Krish Ranganath, regional executive (West Africa), Africa Data Centres and Goke Juba, associate director, Fibre Operations, IHS Nigeria.

Key insights included:

• Expansion of edge data infrastructure beyond Lagos and Abuja is essential to reduce latency and improve local content delivery.
• Power, security, and connectivity must be addressed together to ensure site viability.
• Collaboration between operators and data-centre providers will drive faster deployment in rural areas.

The second session,  focused on Infrastructure Sharing & Collaboration as Key Pillars of Bridging Digital Divide, was moderated by Louisa Olaniyi, the compere. 

The panellists included Tony Emoekpere, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Dr Tola Yusuf, co-founder, Infratel Africa; Segun Okuneye, Divisional CEO, ipNX Nigeria Limited; Onemeguke Azubuike Lucky, senior analyst, Natcom Development and Investment Limited (ntel); Olumide Idowu, group chief technology & information officer, Alphabeta LLC; John Nwachukwu, chief strategy & executive officer, Zoracom; and Dr Isa Usman, associate director, Network Operations, GICL.

Key insights included:

• Shared infrastructure remains the most cost-effective path to rural expansion.
• Spectrum access, harmonised right-of-way policies, and targeted subsidies are needed to attract investors.
• Result-based financing and community-owned networks can complement traditional operator models.

Omobayo Azeez, convener and lead of the Rural Connectivity Initiative, emphasised the need for continued movement.

“Let this gathering be remembered as the moment we all come together to move from talk to action, from plans to progress, and from intent to real impact,” he said.

The Rural Connectivity Summit will become an annual platform for dialogue, accountability, and innovation, bringing together regulators, operators, development agencies, and community leaders to drive universal connectivity and digital inclusion across Nigeria.

At the maiden Rural Connectivity Summit organised by Business Metrics in Lagos, the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, said: “We need to move away from talk shops into actions.”

Speaking under the theme “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potential,” Emoekpere said the industry must stop recycling discussions and start building practical, context-specific solutions that meet the real needs of rural Nigerians. 

“We are all part of the talk shop industry, so to speak, as advocates, we go around speaking. But what impact are we having? What impact are we making?” he asked.

ATCON president noted that despite the official claim of about 200 million active telecom subscribers, many of those figures are duplicates. “They are not real people,” he stressed, noting the example of modern iPhones that can host up to eight eSIMs without a physical SIM slot. 

“If you are counting that as eight subscribers, can you see the irony in that, in this, our data? Let us connect real people.”

Away from telecom subscribers, the ATCON president also challenged engineers and service providers to rethink their design approach, saying too many solutions are borrowed from other regions without adaptation. “We just borrow technology. We are very lazy. We borrow technology,” he said. 

“You are supposed to go to an OEM and say, ‘This is a problem I want to solve.’ Design the system to suit that problem.”

According to him, many of Nigeria’s rural challenges, from banking exclusion to market access for farmers, could be solved with basic, fit-for-purpose digital tools. “The lowest of the lowest hanging fruit in the rural communities is that they are unbanked,” he said. 

“If you try and adopt the POS system, for example, and make it a rural solution that allows POS to operate in rural communities, you have already brought people into the banking sector.”

He gave another example: farmers in remote villages selling produce at unfairly low prices because they lack access to real-time market data. “If I tell the village that, I can give you real-time prices of what you produce, what has been sold. Pay me 10 Naira for that information, for example, so that when the middle man comes to me and says, ‘I’m paying,’ the guy says, ‘No, I’ve received information that pineapple today in Lagos is 3,000 Naira.’ Even if you are transporting it, I cannot collect less than 500 Naira,” he said.

Emoekpere emphasised that the problem is not the absence of markets in rural Nigeria, but the industry’s failure to understand and serve that market correctly. “That there is no market in the rural community is wrong. The issue is our approach to that market,” he said.

He urged organisers and participants at the summit to ensure concrete outcomes beyond conversations. “At the end of the day, we are looking at action, actionable points and even identifying potential drivers, say, ‘Mr A is going to do this, Mr B is going to do that.’”

Connecting rural Nigeria requires empathy, innovation, and accountability, far beyond technology deployment. “We must connect real people,” he concluded. 

This reaffirmation came at the 2nd edition of the Strategic Stakeholders Meeting of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), held in Lagos on Friday.

Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman/CEO of the NCC, delivered a keynote address on the theme “Building Resilience in Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure: The Executive Order and Beyond.”

His remarks were read on his behalf by Mrs. Chioma Ibe, assistant director in the Commission’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department.

Telecoms as National Lifelines

Dr. Maida noted that Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, now boasting over 171 million mobile subscribers and contributing 14.4% to GDP as of Q4 2024, has become the backbone of the digital economy.

From financial transactions and healthcare to education and national security, telecom infrastructure underpins every facet of modern life.

“With an average of 30 to 43 fibre cuts reported daily by service providers, alongside rising cyberthreats and acts of vandalism, resilience is no longer a luxury, it is a national necessity,” he warned.

The EVC underscored the importance of the Presidential Executive Order of June 2024, which designated telecommunications systems as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

This, he said, was a landmark recognition of telecoms as essential to Nigeria’s stability, sovereignty, and prosperity.

Steps Toward Operationalisation

Highlighting the NCC’s efforts to give full effect to the Order, Dr. Maida outlined key interventions:

• Infrastructure Mapping: A nationwide exercise to identify and prioritise telecom assets for protection and investment.
• Protection Plan: Collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to prevent cyberattacks, vandalism, and sabotage through intelligence-sharing and coordinated response mechanisms.
• Public Sensitisation: Campaigns via radio, social media, and community outreach to promote collective responsibility for safeguarding telecom assets.
• Partnerships with Ministries: Joint mechanisms with the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to protect fibre cables during construction projects.
• Sub-National Engagement: Dialogue with state governments to harmonise right-of-way policies, reduce multiple taxation, and curb local disruptions.
• Dispute Mediation: Using dialogue to resolve infrastructure rollout challenges, with notable successes recorded in Osun and Kogi States.
• Enforcement: Reserved as a last resort, in partnership with security agencies, to protect national communication systems.

“These interventions reflect a layered approach to CNII protection, preventive, participatory, and pragmatic,” Dr. Maida explained.

Shared Responsibility and Collaboration

Addressing industry concerns about leadership, Dr. Maida clarified that while the NCC, as regulator, is mandated to lead the CNII framework, the task requires the active collaboration of government, operators, security agencies, lawmakers, and local communities.

“A fragmented approach risks diluting our efforts. But together, we can build a cohesive ecosystem that safeguards CNII and drives Nigeria’s digital ambitions,” he said.

The Way Forward

Looking ahead, the EVC outlined five strategic pillars for securing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure:

1. Public Awareness & Community Ownership – treating telecom assets as national property.
2. Inter-Stakeholder Collaboration – deepened cooperation across agencies and industry players.
3. Information Sharing – improved coordination during construction and maintenance projects.
4. Streamlined Permit Processes – reducing delays in new infrastructure deployment.
5. Stronger Enforcement – punitive measures for sabotage or damage to national infrastructure.

He urged ATCON members and other stakeholders to join forces with the Commission, not just to comply with policy, but to build a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive digital future for Nigeria.

“The security and resilience of our national infrastructure is not negotiable,” he declared. “The NCC pledges its unwavering resolve to lead this vision, but its success hinges on our collective action.”

The summit brought together industry leaders, government representatives, and security experts, reinforcing ATCON’s role as a key convener in shaping Nigeria’s digital destiny.

The meeting will be held under the theme: “Rallying Critical Stakeholders to Drive the Successful Execution of the Executive Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure”, according to a statement available to Techeconomy, signed by Mr. Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, president of ATCON.

He said that the high-level dialogue follows the recent issuance of an Executive Order by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which formally designates telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

According to the ATCON President,

“This marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s digital economy, and it is expected to usher in a more secure and investment-friendly environment for telecom operators and service providers”.

ATCON, through its National President, Executive Council, and member companies, is extending invitations to Commissioners of ICT and Digital Economy, Permanent Secretaries, and Heads of ICT Agencies across the 36 states of the Federation, as well as key Federal Ministries and regulatory bodies, to participate in this timely engagement.

“The effective implementation of this Executive Order hinges significantly on continuous engagement and collaboration with all key stakeholders,” said Mr. Emoekpere.

“State-level leadership is critical to achieving the national objectives set out in the Order. Our 36 State Commissioners hold the key to ensuring that telecom infrastructure is not only protected but also developed to its full potential.”

This landmark development underscores the Nigerian government’s commitment to safeguarding digital infrastructure, an imperative for national security, economic competitiveness, and public safety.

The implementation of the CNII designation is expected to drastically reduce vandalism and service disruptions while improving the quality and reach of telecom services nationwide.

On the strategic objectives of the meeting, Mr. Ajibola Olude, the executive secretary of ATCO, said they aim to ensure “Secure State-Level Commitment and Collaboration”, to foster a unified national approach by encouraging state governments to commit to the objectives of the Executive Order, including creating enabling policies and local initiatives that protect telecom infrastructure.

“Accelerate Broadband Deployment and Economic Impact: Build partnerships that leverage broadband as a tool for job creation, poverty alleviation, and innovation across state economies.

“Encourage Nationwide Investment by ATCON Members: Promote equitable industry participation across the Federation by encouraging ATCON members to invest in under-served and high-potential regions, thereby ensuring balanced digital development.

“This strategic meeting is expected to be a watershed moment in aligning national and subnational priorities toward securing and expanding Nigeria’s critical telecom infrastructure” he added.

ATCON is the premier industry association representing the interests of telecommunications and ICT companies in Nigeria.

It champions industry growth through policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative initiatives that support innovation and infrastructure development.

The event, themed “Impact of Adjacent Agencies on Nigerian Telecom Sector: The Way Forward,” was an in-depth conversation about the structural and regulatory issues stalling industry growth.

The President of ATCON, Tony Emoekpere, opened the meeting with a reflection on the journey so far. “Two years ago, I was entrusted with the mandate to lead this association, and I’ve done so to the best of my ability with absolute focus,” he said. 

He noted that the association has grown with at least 27 new member companies joining during his tenure, and that ATCON had engaged with over 75 strategic global and local events to defend industry interests.

However, he stressed the pressing concerns about the growing influence of non-core regulatory bodies in telecom operations. 

Emoekpere led a no-holds-barred discussion, pointing out that several agencies outside the industry were imposing levies and regulations, thereby disrupting operations.

“We have other agencies that are trying to create some form of levies, looking for ways to impose charges right away on their operations,” he said. “We don’t want to be in an environment where our investment is totally at risk, or where people don’t even want to invest in our sector.”

Participants described the actions of these adjacent agencies as intrusive and economically damaging. Multiple operators spoke about what they termed regulatory duplicity, instances where different state agencies imposed overlapping charges and policies. 

A stakeholder stated: “We already face enough ends. We don’t want to have other people taking up the responsibility.”

The need for a one-stop-shop regulatory model was a recurring recommendation. “In some states, you have the State Revenue Service, the State Infrastructure Agency, the Urban Planning Agency – all coming after you for the same reason. It is not sustainable,” another stakeholder said.

The discussion turned inward when Engineer Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO, Digital Realty (Nigeria) and former president of ATCON, noted industry indiscipline and undercutting among telecom players.

He pointed out that while some members advocate for tariff increases, others reject it, leaving the entire sector weakened. “We’re in the same industry, and they are better capitalised than us… we’re hurting ourselves,” he stated.

This disunity was seen in competition for bank contracts. “The same bank writes you and says decrease your service price, even after telling you that your cost of capital has gone up,” he added. “We don’t function as an association. We don’t function as a group. So when they harass us, we go back and start competing amongst ourselves.”

Vice President of ATCON and CEO of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Muhammed Rudman, stated: “99.98% of internet users in Nigeria access it via mobile, while only 0.2% use fixed lines,” a sharp contrast to South Africa where over 50% of users are on fixed lines, enabling better in-country data traffic retention. 

“Brazil is now the second largest country with internet networks because they domesticated 90% of their traffic through strong associations.”

As tensions rose, Emoekpere reaffirmed ATCON’s focus on industry-wide cohesion. He revealed plans to set up an Industry Think Tank Committee to establish standardised guidelines for engagement with adjacent agencies.

“We must start having industry committees, think tanks to handle some of these matters, so we can now come up with a position,” he said.

Calls for a renewed code of conduct were made, and several members volunteered for roles in committees aimed at solving these regulatory and operational issues. “We must move from talk to structure,” he asserted.

The meeting also touched on education and workforce development, with members agreeing that ATCON must play a more active role in impacting the academic curriculum to meet telecom industry demands.

The group resolved to explore partnerships, virtual training models, and institutional support for under-resourced tertiary institutions.

Closing the session, Emoekpere said, “ATCON is not just an association, it is a collective commitment to action. We do make an impact, and they are actually looking forward to our contributions.”

The newly elected executives were sworn in with high expectations. The first task on their table: push back against regulatory encroachment and unify a fractured industry.

IHS Nigeria is part of the IHS Holding Limited (NYSE: IHS) (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count.

The meeting was organized by IHS Nigeria to develop a multi-stakeholder action plan for the protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) assets in Lagos state.

Recognizing the importance of communications infrastructure as the backbone of national security, economic growth and social cohesion, the stakeholders at the meeting convened under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) agreed on the urgent need for collaborative solutions to ensure the protection of these vital assets.

The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the telecommunications stakeholder groups and regulatory bodies including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA).

Also in attendance were representatives from the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and InfraCos as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the security agency tasked with the protection of Critical National Infrastructure across the country.

Following extensive deliberations, the stakeholders resolved to establish a working group dedicated to addressing key industry challenges, including the vandalization and theft of telecommunications infrastructure, arbitrary shutdown of base stations, fiber cuts due to road construction and the denial of access by unauthorized individuals by leveraging technology for real-time monitoring and protection, strengthening security measures around telecommunication sites and collaborating more with the security and regulatory agencies to mitigate these challenges.

The stakeholders underscored the need to prioritize deterrence and prevention of these incidents and highlighted the importance of public awareness campaigns to sensitize the host communities and public of the need to protect telecommunications infrastructure in their localities.

Dapo Otunla, Senior Vice President & Chief Corporate Services Officer of IHS Nigeria, commented,

“The protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) has been a critical concern for all industry stakeholders. We are experiencing daily losses of assets, which significantly impact on the quality of service delivered to subscribers. Addressing these issues is paramount to sustaining Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and meeting regulatory expectations.”

They argued that before CNII can have a real impact, internal operational issues, standardisation challenges, and industry-wide inefficiencies must first be addressed by telecom operators.

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), noted the broad challenges such as infrastructure vandalism, unauthorised installations, and cable theft.

He pointed to poor maintenance as a key factor enabling theft and vandalism. “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.

Beyond vandalism, Adebayo noted that community resistance to telecom projects has slowed progress. He recalled an incident where “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.”

To prevent such conflicts, he urged stakeholders to promote better relationships with local communities.

Adebayo also identified the unauthorised installation of telecom infrastructure without government approval as a major issue. He explained, “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 called for improved coordination within the industry, stressing that operators must resolve internal challenges before relying on external protections promised by CNII provisions.

Tony Emoekpere, president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), emphasised 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 said.

He stressed that the lack of proper standardisation weakens infrastructure 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.

Emoekpere also noted that while Nigeria has strong policies, such as local content policies, implementation remains a major challenge. “We must move beyond discussions and focus on actionable steps, follow-ups, and policy enforcement,” he added.

Wale Owoeye, CEO of Cedarview Communications Limited, spoke about the frequent cable theft, which disrupts network operations and increases 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 tackle this, Owoeye proposed three key approaches:

1. Community Reorientation – “We need to engage local communities in their native languages, educating them on the consequences of vandalism.”
2. Stricter Enforcement – “Strict legal penalties, including long-term imprisonment, should be enforced to deter offenders.”
3. Proactive Prevention – “Prevention is always more effective and cost-efficient than restoration.”

As a necessary measure, he suggested creating a dedicated fund to support advocacy and awareness campaigns across Nigeria.

In this regard, he pledged to contribute ₦500,000 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 telecommunications infrastructure.

Mr. Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, the president of ATCON, opened the meeting with a welcome address which set the context of the meeting and outlined its objectives.

The meeting featured a Keynote Address by Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) delivered by Engr. Yahaya Hamisu Abubakar, Head of the Broadband Implementation and Monitoring Unit in NCC.

Short presentations on expectations of operators from State Governments were made by Channel Scott of Pan African Towers and Saidu Abdulahi of HIS.

On the Government side, Mrs Rose Ibrahim, the acting Perm Sec (Director of Adm) represented Dr. Helen Aderibigbe Adeniyi, the commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Kogi State, and the Mr. Suleiman Isah, Commissioner for Communications, Technology and Digital Economy, spoke on State Governments’ expectations from operators towards connectivity and digital economy development.

The meeting also featured two interactive panel discussions from both the perspectives of Government and those of operators.

Among the States represented at the meeting were the States of Enugu, Cross River, Taraba, Adamawa, Anambra, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Ogun.

Overall, the meeting was attended by about 85 persons from the industry, Government and the media.

Techeconomy presents the communique issued at the end of the Strategic stakeholders’ meeting:

Objectives of the Meeting

The objectives of the meeting were outlined to include, among others:

1. Comprehensive review of the National Broadband Plan.
2. Fostering collaboration between operators and States for the digital transformation of all States in the federation.
3. Exploring opportunities to leverage broadband and ICT technologies to drive economic growth in all sectors of the sub-national economies.
4. Addressing critical issues affecting the telecoms sector.

Observations at the Meeting

1. The telecoms operators at the meeting decried the:
   1. Activities of non-state actors engaging in criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry, vandalism and terrorism, which posed significant risks to both local and expatriate personnel working on telecom infrastructure, especially in the northern and southeastern parts of the nation.
   2. Exorbitant fees, bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles associated with obtaining Right of Way permits from some State Governments which had continued to be major barriers to telecom infrastructure development in Nigeria.
2. The representatives of State Governments on their own part expressed a strong desire for Telecoms operators to:
   1. Engage and interact more with sub-national Governments for a better understanding of their investments and operations in their host communities.
   2. Obtain permits, in accordance with the Communications Act of 2003, before investing in or deploying telecoms infrastructure in the States to avoid conflicts with constituted authorities.
3. The meeting was however unanimous in noting:
   1. The importance of cooperation and collaboration in developing the digital economy through the triple helix of Federal Government, Sub-nationals and Industry.
   2. The progress so far made in connectivity and broadband penetration in the country and the bright prospects of even more progress in the future through technical efficiencies and collaboration of stakeholders.
   3. That for Nigeria to fully harness the benefits of connectivity such as bridging of the digital divide, inclusive society, better governance and equity, digitization, enhanced security and sustainable development, it must address existing gaps in telecommunications infrastructure, and create an investor-friendly environment.
   4. The overarching role of broadband in economic development.
   5. The sterling examples of telecom-driven eGovernment implementation in some States such as Adamawa, Anambra and Cross River.

Resolutions and Recommendations

Against the background of the foregoing observations, the meeting resolved that:

1. Such a consultative and interactive stakeholders meeting hosted by ATCON should be regular and at least annual.
2. A Memorandum of Understanding, specifying standards of engagement between operators and sub-national Governments, be drafted and executed as an outcome of the July 31, 2024, meeting to enable more investor friendly environment for the growth of the digital economy through a connected Nigeria.
3. Operators should adopt, as part of their standard operating procedure, regular engagements with appropriate authorities at the sub-national levels.
4. Government, especially at the sub-national levels, and telecom operators must continually collaborate to achieve a connected Nigeria and an enhanced economic growth for the nation.
5. State Governments would, therefore, need to prioritize telecoms infrastructure, work for harmonized Right of Way charges and adopt the Dig Once Policy initiative across the country.

The meeting also:

1. Commended ATCON for its proactive leadership in scheduling and hosting the very successful stakeholder meeting.
2. Expressed gratitude to the NCC, under the leadership of Dr. Aminu Maida as the EVC, for its support.
3. Thanked all the sponsors of the event, which included: NCC, Huawei Technologies, Africa Data Centers, NetAccess Systems Limited, IHS Nigeria Limited, Pan African Towers, MainOne, VDT Communications, Tec-Point Global Solution, FibreOne, Infratel Africa, One Date, Interra Network, Layer3 Limited, and Notion Technologies.
4. Thanked the media for their participation and coverage of the event.

Issued thus 31st Day of July 2024 at the Envoy Hotel, Diplomatic Drive, Abuja.

Signed:

Dr. Hammajam Ahmed Adamu, (Special Adviser ICTs, E-Governance and Policy, Adamawa State) – For: Government Officials.         

Mr. Tony I. Emoekpere, president, ATCON – For Operators.