The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has called for stronger judicial collaboration with the NCC in safeguarding telecommunications infrastructure, tackling cybercrime and strengthening online safety as Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand rapidly.
Addressing judicial officers at the opening of the two-day 2026 Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in the Telecommunications sector on Thursday in Lagos, Maida said that the judiciary would play a decisive role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, the NCC boss noted that Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy has created both opportunities and legal challenges requiring deeper judicial understanding and intervention.
He described the theme of the workshop “Adjudicating in the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety” as timely, noting that issues around digital connectivity, cybersecurity and infrastructure protection have become central to national development.
According to him, Nigeria’s digital ecosystem has witnessed significant growth over the past year, with broadband penetration rising from 47.7 per cent in 2025 to 54.3 per cent in 2026.
He disclosed that telecommunications operators invested over $1 billion in network expansion in 2025, leading to the deployment of thousands of new telecom sites across the country to improve service quality and coverage.
Despite the progress, Maida warned that the sector remained vulnerable to persistent attacks on telecom infrastructure, including vandalism, fibre cuts, equipment theft and sabotage.
He disclosed that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had officially designated telecommunications assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure, underscoring their importance to national security and economic stability.
According to him, the Commission is collaborating with security agencies, operators and other stakeholders to strengthen protection measures through nationwide asset mapping, public sensitisation campaigns, mediation efforts, and stricter enforcement mechanisms.
He added that collaboration between the NCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser had already led to the disruption of criminal syndicates involved in the theft and resale of telecom equipment.
On cybercrime and identity fraud, Maida said that the NCC had introduced the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System, (TIRMS) to address SIM-related fraud, number recycling abuses and identity theft.
He disclosed that the Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Bank of Nigeria to support efforts aimed at combating electronic fraud linked to phone numbers and financial services.
The NCC, according to him, plans to deepen collaboration with agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Identity Management Commission in the fight against cybercrime.
Maida also expressed concern over rising online harms such as misinformation, hate speech, child exploitation and data privacy breaches, stating that the Commission had reviewed its Internet Code of Practice to promote responsible internet governance while balancing innovation with consumer protection.
He told the judicial offices that the courts would increasingly be required to interpret laws, resolve disputes and establish precedents that would shape investor confidence and trust within Nigeria’s digital economy.
Maida explained that the two-day workshop will feature expert presentations and panel discussions on telecommunications infrastructure resilience, artificial intelligence, subscriber identity management, cybersecurity, and internet governance.
He assured the judicial officers of the NCC’s commitment to sustaining the collaboration with the National Judicial Institute through continued capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving justice delivery in telecommunications and digital-related matters.
GIK/APA