Protect critical national information infrastructure – NCC tells Tarabans

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has urged residents of Taraba State to take ownership of and protect Critical National Information Infrastructure, CNII, to strengthen cybersecurity and support national development.

The commission made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation forum held in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital on Thursday, where government officials, telecommunications operators, security agencies, industry leaders and other stakeholders discussed measures to safeguard the country’s critical digital infrastructure.

The NCC described the federal government’s designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure under the Cybercrimes Act as a landmark decision that underscores the importance of protecting the nation’s digital assets.

It noted that telecommunications infrastructure faces threats, including vandalism, theft, sabotage, cyber attacks and deliberate destruction, stressing the need for collective action to address the challenges.

In a presentation at the forum, the commission said the sensitisation exercise was designed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the CNII framework, identify emerging threats and vulnerabilities, clarify responsibilities and strengthen partnerships for the protection of critical digital assets.

The NCC also emphasised the importance of open dialogue and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders in developing effective strategies to secure telecommunications infrastructure and build a resilient cyberspace.

Participants, led by the Taraba State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, described the engagement as essential to promoting public awareness and encouraging attitudinal change at the grassroots.

They stressed that protecting telecommunications infrastructure required the active participation of communities, noting that the destruction of telecommunications masts and fibre-optic cables could disrupt communication services, affect economic activities and undermine community development.

The participants further called for greater community ownership of telecommunications projects, urging residents to see the protection of such infrastructure as a shared responsibility.