Telecom
NCC’s Maida Calls for Unified Action to Accelerate Broadband and Safeguard Telecom Infrastructure
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has called for urgent collaboration among Nigeria’s states and stakeholders to accelerate broadband connectivity and safeguard critical national infrastructure.
L-R: Director, Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection, Office of the National Security Advisers (ONSA), Enebong Effiom; Executive Governor, Katsina State, Dikko Radda and Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, during a business roundtable on broadband investment and critical national infrastructure protection hosted by the Commission in Abuja on Wednesday (October 8, 2025).
Speaking at a business roundtable held at the NCC Digital Economy Complex on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the EVC emphasized broadband as a national imperative for economic growth, security, and digital inclusion under the theme, “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity.”
Dr. Maida began his remarks by underscoring the invaluable role of connectivity across industries, citing examples from Enugu’s industrial sector to security services relying on real-time data. “When connectivity fails, opportunities evaporate, productivity stalls—and in critical situations, lives can be put at risk,” he said.
He stressed that broadband today transcends faster downloads or video calls; it is the bedrock of economic inclusion and national resilience.
According to the EVC, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at approximately 48.81 percent as of August 2025, with over 140 million Nigerians online. Highlighting the sector’s contribution to GDP, he cited research indicating a 10 percent broadband increase could boost GDP by 1.38 percent in developing countries.
Expanding broadband access, Dr. Maida said, would multiply economic opportunities, enabling new jobs, services, and innovation hubs across Nigeria’s states.
He referenced Rwanda and India’s success stories, where coordinated investments in fiber infrastructure and digital governance transformed their economies into emerging digital powerhouses.
The EVC lauded the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Communications Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani for pursuing the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) with ambitious targets of 70 percent broadband penetration and deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fiber backbone by year-end.
To this end, the NCC has translated these goals into strategic actions despite operational challenges.
Among the NCC’s key initiatives, Dr. Maida highlighted the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order signed in June 2024, which empowers law enforcement agencies to combat vandalism, theft, and denial of service attacks on telecom infrastructure.
The Commission, working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has operationalized this order through a Telecommunications Industry Working Group focused on site security, maintenance, and access control.
Complemented by public awareness campaigns and collaboration with judicial and security institutions, this effort has led to the dismantling of major vandalism cartels over the past two years.
Addressing the historic challenge of high Right of Way (RoW) fees—levied variably by states and often hindering fiber rollout—the EVC disclosed successes in advocacy resulting in five additional states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Benue, and Zamfara) waiving these fees, bringing the total to eleven states without RoW charges.
Seventeen other states have capped fees at the Nigerian Governors Forum benchmark of N145 per linear meter. Dr. Maida underscored ongoing efforts to achieve uniform, predictable RoW regimes nationwide, coupled with “dig-once” coordination with public works to share ducts and plans, cutting fiber damage and civil works costs.
The NCC further strengthened investor confidence by approving cost-reflective and competitive tariff rates earlier this year, prompting operators’ collective commitment of over $1 billion in broadband rollout investments across Nigeria.
To enhance market openness, the Commission has commissioned a wholesale fiber study to facilitate backbone sharing between owners and Internet Service Providers, unlocking last-mile expansion and faster backhaul.
On transparency, the Commission expanded performance disclosures, including outage reporting, quality of service dashboards, and compliance metrics to drive accountability.
Despite these achievements, the EVC highlighted continuing challenges: from January to August 2025, Nigeria recorded 19,384 fiber cut incidents, 3,241 equipment thefts, and over 19,000 cases of denied access to telecom sites, causing prolonged outages and increased security costs.
Further obstacles include fragmented and unpredictable RoW regimes, weak coordination with road authorities, energy supply volatility, multiple taxation, and bureaucratic permitting processes.
Dr. Maida warned of the urgency, citing the accelerating global digital race driven by artificial intelligence and outsourcing movements favoring low-cost, high-connectivity environments. “If our broadband backbone is weak, our youth will be marginalized, and our economy will likely not achieve its full potential,” he said, underscoring that communities without digital connectivity today are essentially invisible.
The EVC urged governors and state authorities to partner in enforcing telecom infrastructure as critical assets; adopt 100 percent RoW waivers or at minimum NGF benchmarks with clear timelines; institutionalize coordination between public works and operators; embrace transparency in fees and processes; establish state digital infrastructure funds to attract private fiber investment; and support energy resilience through hybrid and solar power at telecom sites.
Looking ahead, Dr. Maida announced two major NCC initiatives to be launched the next day: an Ease of Doing Business Portal offering a one-stop-shop for all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI), a framework to annually measure and publish states’ digital readiness and competitiveness to enhance accountability and drive improvements.
He concluded with a powerful call to action: “The digital revolution does not wait. Let us align, invest, and protect, for the prosperity of our people and the future of our nation.” He left the audience with one final question, “Will we align—or be left behind?”
This roundtable marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey toward a digitally inclusive and economically robust future, positioning broadband connectivity and its protection as strategic national imperatives.
The race is down to three as the Glo Innov8 National STEM Competition for Girls approaches its grand finale. The competition, organized by the Glo Foundation, Globacom’s corporate social responsibility arm, will take place at the Mike Adenuga Centre (Alliance Française), Ikoyi, Lagos.
From over 200 schools that entered nationwide, 20 were initially shortlisted, and 10 went on to compete for a place in the finals. The three schools that made it to the last stage are Ephraim High School, Isolo Campus, Lagos; Regina Pacis International School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Peakfield Academy, Jos, Plateau State.
Hundreds of students across several states, including Plateau, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Oyo, Anambra, FCT, Delta, Kaduna, and Adamawa submitted entries after the Glo Foundation’s nationwide call for participation.
The initiative, designed as a STEM-driven challenge, was launched to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child — celebrating creativity, innovation, and inclusion among young women in science and technology.
According to the Glo Foundation, “The competition is aimed at inspiring young girls to Compete, Innovate, and Win — while strengthening their confidence and expanding their knowledge in STEM subjects.”
The winning school will take home ₦2,000,000 cash prize, with each of its two student representatives receiving a brand-new laptop and the Teacher/Mentor/STEM Coordinator earning ₦200,000. Runners-up will also receive valuable consolation prizes.
The three judges of the virtual stage expressed delight at the quality of presentations from the top 20 schools. Tosin Olabode praised the participants’ creativity, saying, “I was particularly impressed by the prototype presentations — some schools clearly did their homework.”
Another judge, Amina Gabriel, highlighted the diversity of ideas, noting, “The schools presented innovative solutions addressing issues in agriculture, security, waste management, and firefighting. The prototypes ranged from apps to robots, making the competition truly engaging. I’m grateful to Glo Foundation for giving me the chance to support young girls in STEM.”
On her part, Sharon Ibejih added that “this competition has showcased a highly competitive next generation of women leaders in STEM. It’s a brilliant platform to nurture problem-solving and innovative thinking among students.”
As the final stage approaches, anticipation is high for what promises to be a memorable showcase of brilliant young Nigerian girls and a testament to Globacom’s commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators.
Tecom Concept Limited, Nigeria’s trusted technology partner and official Huawei Enterprise Solutions distributor, is set to host a groundbreaking event titled “Empowering Smart Connectivity & Innovation” in Abuja.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the NAF Conference Centre, Plot 496, Ahmadu Bello Way, Gwarinpa Expressway, Kado, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m is an high-profile engagement which seeks to showcase how innovative digital infrastructure and intelligent connectivity can transform business operations and enhance productivity in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.
The event will bring together ICT professionals, enterprise leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss how smart, scalable, and sustainable technology can drive Nigeria’s digital growth agenda.
At the heart of this initiative is Tecom’s partnership with Huawei, one of the world’s leading providers of ICT solutions. Together, both companies aim to empower Nigerian organizations with the tools and knowledge needed to modernize their operations and compete more effectively in a connected world. Participants will experience firsthand how Huawei’s enterprise solutions—ranging from next-generation network infrastructure and storage systems to intelligent collaboration technologies—are redefining the future of business connectivity and innovation.
According to Happiness Obioha, Managing Director of Tecom Concept Limited, this collaboration demonstrates Tecom’s commitment to bridging the technology gap and helping organizations harness the power of digital transformation. “Our goal is to create a platform where businesses and IT professionals can explore innovative technologies that make communication smarter, operations more efficient, and growth more sustainable,” she stated.
The event will feature expert-led sessions, product showcases, and interactive discussions designed to provide practical insights into how Huawei’s solutions can transform business environments. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage directly with Huawei specialists, gain valuable knowledge, and explore tailored solutions for their unique organizational needs.
Tecom encourages all technology professionals, business leaders, and public sector representatives to participate in this transformative event and be part of the conversation shaping the future of smart connectivity and digital innovation in Nigeria.
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has announced a call for session proposals for the 2026 edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF26), scheduled to take place from April 14 to 16, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The forum, now in its 13th edition, offers a platform for stakeholders across the digital ecosystem—including policymakers, civil society, academia, media, and the private sector—to exchange ideas, showcase solutions, and drive progress in digital rights and inclusion.
The 2026 theme, “Building Inclusive and Resilient Digital Futures,” builds on the 2025 theme, “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology.”
DRIF26 will feature sub-themes such as digital security, trust and accountability, data protection, privacy and cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, digital inclusion for marginalised groups, human rights and freedoms, and digital and internet governance.
PIN, a leading pan-African non-profit organisation, said the forum continues to foster cross-sector collaboration and amplify voices working to shape inclusive digital policies.
In 2025, DRIF was held in Lusaka, Zambia, with 1,399 registered attendees and 623 in-person participants from 65 countries. Previous editions were hosted in Accra, Ghana (2024), and Nairobi, Kenya (2023), with growing participation each year.
Since its inception in 2013, DRIF has evolved into a premier platform for dialogue on digital policy, rights, and inclusion, accommodating diverse perspectives from civil society, technology companies, government, and academia.
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