This was disclosed in Lagos, during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop for judges on legal issues in telecommunications, organised by the NCC.

In his welcome address, Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of NCC, said despite the progress recorded in the telecoms sector in the areas of investments and network expansion, including growth in broadband, which has led to increased broadband penetration from 47.70 per cent in 2025 to 54.30 per cent in 2026, the sector remained threatened with constant telecoms infrastructure attacks that could erode its many gains, if not addressed.

According to him, the workshop, themed: ‘Adjudicating in the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety,’ gives a picture of both the challenges and opportunities present in the telecoms sector, and indeed the impact on the wider digital economy.

“The theme of this workshop rightly highlights the Judiciary’s imperative in three critical areas: connectivity, infrastructure protection, and online safety. Telecommunications infrastructure has now been officially designated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which means that assets of the telecommunications sector are to be provided a whole-of-government and whole-of-society protection, given their crucial importance to our daily lives.

“Despite this, we continue to witness disturbing levels of vandalism, fibre cuts, theft of equipment, and sabotage that disrupt services for millions of citizens and compromise national security,” Maida said.

“As judges, you are increasingly being called upon to interpret laws, adjudicate disputes, and set precedents that will determine how these complex issues are resolved, Maida further said.

He added that

“Your decisions will influence regulatory certainty for investors and the overall trust in our digital ecosystem.“

Chief Idris Olorunimbe, chairman, NCC’s Board of Commissioners, in his opening remarks, said the workshop provided a timely platform for constructive engagement between the judiciary, regulators, law enforcement institutions, policymakers, and industry operators on the legal and governance challenges arising within the digital ecosystem.

He therefore called on the judiciary to move at the speed of 5G in order to legally address the speed of wanton destruction and attacks on telecoms infrastructure.

In his remarks, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, the administrator, National Judicial Institute, said:

“The judiciary plays a pivotal role in harmonising the right to freedom of expression with the competing demands of privacy and security. Executing this delicate duty invariably requires a sophisticated grasp of the telecommunications environment, the precise interpretation of evolving statutes, and a continuous recognition of how intersecting rights influence Nigeria’s digital trajectory. The workshop thus serves as a vital forum for analysing these emerging complexities within the sector.”

In her keynote speech, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Board of Governors, National Judicial Institute, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, represented by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Musa Saulawa, said:

“As technological innovation continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, legal systems across the world are increasingly required to confront new questions concerning regulation, accountability, rights protection, and institutional responsibility within 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.”

According to her, experience from other jurisdictions demonstrates the increasingly central role of the judiciary in shaping the legal architecture of the digital age, adding that in Nigeria, the pace of technological expansion makes judicial preparedness particularly important.

He stated this today in Lagos at the ongoing two-day Annual Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications organized by the Commission.

Maida, noted that the judiciary is catching the technology-fever as, to an extent, it depends on digital tools and technologies to carry out its functions, adding that most of  the  work Judges do have been transformed over time by the introduction of technology, commendably improving the pace and quality of the delivery of justice in Nigeria.

Maida said that clearly, no sector of national life was left out of the digital transformation conversation, noting that it impacts all of us.

“Increasingly over the years, telecommunication infrastructure has suffered from disruptions due extensive damage from vandalism and theft, fiber cuts by construction companies to mention a few, and even restricted access that prevents operators from servicing critical infrastructure.

“The industry has long called for special protections to be accorded to these assets to ensure continuous connectivity and reliable communication services.

The Presidential Order designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure requires judicial support to ensure effective implementation.

“Under this Order, individuals, organizations, or even government agencies are prohibited from sealing, removing, or damaging telecommunications infrastructure without a lawful court order, “Maida said..

He said that the Commission anticipates that the courts might occasionally receive requests for orders to grant exceptions to the protections afforded to these Critical National Information Infrastructures, noting that during the workshop, insights would be provided to support judicial discretion in evaluating such requests.

Maida explained that the order would safeguard vital telecommunication assets, enhance national security, and promote economic growth.

“The judiciary’s role in protecting fundamental rights, enforcing digital contracts, and developing digital jurisprudence is vital to Nigeria’s digital transformation,” Maida emphasized.

He noted that NCC was working with key stakeholders, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, to ensure seamless implementation of the Presidential Order.

“The judiciary’s role in shaping Nigeria’s digital future cannot be overstated. We must work together to ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global digital economy.

“Nigeria’s digital economy has tremendous potential for growth, with revenues projected to reach 18.30 billion dollars by 2026. The country’s digital transformation is expected to create employment opportunities, reduce poverty, and promote innovation.

Also, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the chief justice of Nigeria, commended the Commission for its assiduous efforts at protecting consumers from unfair practices by service providers.

Kekere-Ekun, speaking through Justice Jummai Sankey, Justice of the Supreme Court, said that the Nigerian Judiciary was committed to the development of the telecommunications sector and as such, would continue to ensure coherence in the interpretation of the relevant laws as well as transparency and efficiency in the dispensation of justice.

She highlighted pressing concerns, including cybersecurity risks, consumer data protection, and the critical need for improved dispute resolution frameworks within the digital economy.

Kekere -Ekun said she was hopeful l that the workshop would help judicial officers gain the technical expertise required to tackle emerging legal challenges in telecommunications.

The leadership of the Commission made the call during a workshop organized for Nigerian judges which started in Lagos on Tuesday with the theme: “The digital world and the future of adjudication,” with judges from the federal and state high courts, and appeal courts in attendance.

Speaking at the 18th annual capacity-building workshop, Prof. Adeolu Akande,  the Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, urged the legal luminaries to make greater contributions towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in Nigeria.

While stating the centrality of a functional adjudicatory system as a bedrock for any civilised society, Akande said there was the need to constantly equip judicial officers with the requisite skills for effectual adjudication, especially in the digitized world, where the rate if technology development t is fast ahead of laws.

Prof. Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, in his address, said the Internet comes with several challenges, hence the need for judges to be exposed to the benefits as well as the challenges associated with new technologies.

The EVC said through the workshop, judges will be exposed to disruptive technologies, the rights of data subjects, and jurisdictional issues in the digital age, which have continued to make the ICT industry a dynamic one.

“The increased reliance on telecommunications, as well as the growth experienced in the sector, has introduced some issues of legal connotation which will be deliberated upon by various experts during this workshop. One of such issues is the ownership of online content and materials.

“So, it is envisaged that with the increase in the amount of online content, as well as the economic value attached to it, there will be a rise in conflicts as to ownership of online content and materials.

“It is necessary that your lordships are well prepared for the imminent increase in litigation in this area. Furthermore, with an increase in the number of transactions and businesses taking place in the online space, it is also expedient for your lordships to be exposed to the peculiarities of adjudicating conflicts in this era of digital presence and online identity,” he said.

He stated that the Commission conceived the idea of the forum, as part of its strategic partnership and collaboration, as a forum to further build the capacity of the distinguished judges with practical insights on these emerging issues in the field of telecommunications.

“Hopefully, this workshop will illuminate these challenges and proffer ways to meet the dynamics of the changing times. I, therefore, enjoin you to freely make contributions and raise issues that would assist the commission in coming up with adequate regulatory measures that would enhance development in the communications sector of the economy.  We assure you that every view expressed would be respected and considered in this regard,” he said.

On his part, Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), commended the Commission for the annual forum while assuring the telecom regulatory of the commitment of the judiciary to using technology for justice dispensation as well as support a more robust legal ecosystem for sustaining socio-economic growth of Nigeria through telecoms sector.

Represented by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Ariwoola said, through the use of ICT, the judiciary has improved, not just in judicial administration and services, but also in infrastructural development.

Ariwoola said regardless of the benefits of digitalisation there are bound to be liabilities and risks involved with its introduction and usage as she highlighted such risks to include Cyber Crime, data piracy, and hacking among several other vices.

“Our judicial system has been challenged with delays in dispensing justice. However, with the introduction of ICT into the judicial space, many of the difficulties associated with the conventional methods are gradually being dispensed with,” he said.

The Chief Justice said the path to effective and efficient justice delivery in Nigeria lies in the collective ability to continuously improve the nation’s justice sector with the use of ICT tools.

“The Nigerian judiciary is committed to achieving lasting structural and ethical reforms that would reposition it to adequately meet the aspirations of court users and the public for the reliable, effective and efficient administration of justice through the use of ICT,” he said.