Telecom
WATRA Secretary sees Resilience as a Critical Link in West Africa’s Digital Economy
Aliyu Aboki, Executive Secretary of WATRA has applauded the outcome of the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit 2026 in Porto, Portugal, where infrastructure operators, regulators, financiers, and global institutions agreed that resilience is no longer a technical concern but an economic one. According to him, “for West Africa, this conversation is not theoretical.
It is immediate and consequential. The region, with a combined GDP of over $800 billion, is undergoing rapid digital transformation. Its digital economy—spanning fintech, e-commerce, digital services, and connectivity—has been estimated to contribute between $100 billion and $150 billion in economic activity annually, with strong growth prospects.
“Across the region, digital platforms are helping to overcome long-standing infrastructure constraints, boost productivity, attract investment, and create jobs. But this transformation rests on a fragile foundation. In March 2024, a series of submarine cable disruptions along the West African coast exposed a critical vulnerability at the heart of this emerging digital economy.
“For several hours—and in some cases days—connectivity was degraded across multiple countries. Banking systems slowed, digital platforms experienced outages, and businesses reliant on cloud infrastructure faced significant operational disruption. The incident was not unprecedented. According to the International Cable Protection Committee, most submarine cable faults globally result from fishing activity, anchoring, or natural seabed movement. What made the West African disruption different was its scale. Multiple cables serving the region were affected simultaneously, sharply reducing available bandwidth and overwhelming existing redundancy”.
Mr. Aboki, explained that West Africa is served by several major international systems, including West Africa Cable System (WACS), Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), and MainOne Cable. These systems collectively provide significant international capacity. Yet their routing patterns and landing configurations meant that a single disruption could affect multiple systems at once. In the aftermath, internet traffic in affected countries fell sharply—by some estimates more than 50 percent—while latency increased and service quality deteriorated. Restoration timelines varied, but in some cases took several days, highlighting both physical repair constraints and administrative bottlenecks. For policymakers and investors, the implications are clear. Submarine cables are not simply telecommunications infrastructure. They are foundational to economic activity.
He noted that more than 95 percent of global internet traffic travels through submarine cables, a statistic consistently emphasized by the International Telecommunication Union. “In West Africa, where digital adoption is accelerating rapidly, the reliability of these systems is directly linked to economic performance. Outages translate into lost transactions, reduced productivity, and weakened investor confidence. At the Porto Summit, I reflected that this discussion is particularly important for West Africa, where the digital economy is emerging as a powerful driver of growth—helping to overcome physical infrastructure gaps while creating new pathways for inclusion and opportunity. But without resilient connectivity, that momentum cannot be sustained. Historically, resilience has been treated as a secondary consideration—something addressed after deployment rather than embedded at the point of investment. That approach is no longer tenable”.
“Across global discussions, including those involving the World Bank, there is growing recognition that digital infrastructure must be approached through the lens of long-term risk and sustainability. Resilience shapes risk premiums, insurance costs, and financing decisions. Where it is poorly defined, it is treated as an additional cost. Where it is clearly linked to reduced downtime and operational continuity, it becomes a value proposition—one that can unlock capital. For underserved regions, this distinction is critical.
“The challenge is not simply to build more cables, but to build systems that are financeable, durable, and regionally coherent. The 2024 disruptions also exposed a structural mismatch. Submarine cable networks are regional in operation, but governance remains largely national. Permitting processes differ.
Emergency response procedures are not harmonised. Cable protection regimes vary in enforcement. This fragmentation introduces risk. When outages occur, delays in customs clearance, port access, and inter-agency coordination can extend repair timelines. For investors, these uncertainties translate directly into higher cost of capital.
Addressing this requires a shift in perspective. Submarine cable resilience must be treated as a regional public good, supported by coordinated policy frameworks. In West Africa, this has reinforced the importance of regulatory alignment through WATRA, which brings together telecommunications regulators from 16 member states. The focus is not centralisation, but coordination—ensuring that critical aspects of resilience are addressed consistently across jurisdictions.
This includes:
- Streamlined and predictable landing and permitting processes
- Stronger cable protection frameworks aligned with international best practice
- Pre-agreed emergency protocols for repair operations
- Improved data sharing on outages and restoration timelines
These are not technical fixes. They are regulatory interventions with economic consequences.
Equally important is the need to embed resilience at the design stage of new investments. This means prioritising true route diversity, avoiding correlated risk, and aligning regulatory approvals with resilience objectives. West Africa’s experience is not unique. Similar vulnerabilities exist across emerging markets and small states.
What is changing is the recognition that resilience is central to the economics of connectivity. For West Africa, the stakes are particularly high. The region’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, driven by fintech, mobile broadband, and digital entrepreneurship. These sectors depend on infrastructure that remains largely invisible—until it fails.
Submarine cable repairs in the region are inherently costly. A single repair is typically estimated at around $1.5–2 million, with vessel mobilisation from distant bases such as Cape Town accounting for a significant share of the expense. In more complex cases—particularly where multiple cables are affected—costs can rise to as much as $8 million. Limited availability of specialised repair vessels in Africa further compounds the challenge, contributing to longer restoration timelines compared to global benchmarks.
The 2024 disruptions were a stress test. They exposed weaknesses, but also created momentum for reform. If resilience is embedded into policy, design, and financing frameworks, West Africa can build a more robust foundation for digital growth.
What is often overlooked is that resilience is not only about infrastructure—it is about livelihoods. It is what allows a 24-year-old graduate running a furniture business on Instagram in Lagos to continue fulfilling orders without interruption. It is what enables a small-scale grocery distributor in Surulere, relying on digital payments, to keep transactions flowing even when networks are under strain.
At a larger scale, banks processing millions of daily transactions, logistics companies coordinating cross-border supply chains, and telecom operators delivering data services all depend on uninterrupted connectivity. When resilience fails, the cost of downtime is immediate—lost revenue, disrupted trade, and weakened confidence. Resilience, in other words, connects the informal trader, the small business owner, and the multinational enterprise in the same economic chain.
What distinguishes the West African context is that, for many participants in this economy, disruptions translate directly into lost income with limited buffers. Unlike more mature markets, where redundancies and institutional safeguards can cushion short-term shocks, much of the region’s digital economy operates in real time, with little margin for interruption. Resilience therefore does not simply protect submarine cables—it underpins economic continuity.
A new non-profit advocacy group, the National Affordable Connectivity Advocacy Network (NACAN), has launched initiatives aimed at addressing broadband affordability challenges and promoting policy reforms for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
Broadband
The launch coincided with the 2026 edition of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), themed: “Digital lifelines: Strengthening resilience in a connected world.”
NACAN said its primary objective is to bridge digital access gaps affecting Nigerian SMEs by reducing broadband costs, advocating regulatory reforms and improving digital capacity for small businesses.
As part of its rollout plans, the organisation unveiled the Southern Connectivity Voucher Pilot, a programme designed to provide subsidised data vouchers to small businesses in major commercial centres in southern Nigeria.
According to the group, the intervention is expected to reduce internet-related operational costs for businesses and improve digital access.
NACAN also announced plans to host the Niger Delta Digital Lifelines Roundtable in Port Harcourt, bringing together state ICT commissioners, internet service providers, telecom stakeholders and civil society groups.
The forum is expected to focus on strengthening resilient last-mile broadband infrastructure across underserved communities.
Speaking at the launch, National Coordinator of NACAN, Uchechukwu Emmanuel Ugochukwu, said internet access had become critical infrastructure for Nigerian businesses.
“In the current economic climate, internet access is no longer a luxury for Nigerian businesses; it is an infrastructure lifeline.
“We are debuting to ensure that high data costs and weak network reliability do not permanently exclude Nigerian SMEs from the global digital economy,” he said.
The organisation also unveiled a policy advocacy agenda targeting reforms on Right-of-Way charges and measures to reduce frequent network outages affecting businesses.
To deepen stakeholder engagement, NACAN said it is collaborating with industry groups including the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCIMA), and the APC ICT Directorate, alongside private sector partners.
NACAN described itself as a non-profit initiative focused on promoting digital equity for Nigerian SMEs through advocacy for affordable, reliable and secure broadband infrastructure.
The group said its long-term goal is to support the integration of local businesses into the formal digital economy and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has said that sustained collaboration among African countries remains central to the continent’s drive toward digital transformation.
The organisation stressed that building secure, interoperable and inclusive digital systems across Africa cannot be achieved in isolation, calling for stronger regional partnerships to accelerate innovation and shared infrastructure development.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Head of Corporate Communications at Galaxy Backbone, Chidi Okpala.
As it prepares to host a major delegation of policymakers, technology leaders and development partners in Abuja, GBB said the engagement would further highlight the importance of cross-border cooperation in shaping Africa’s digital future.
Okpala explained that the initiative is designed to provide both dialogue and practical exposure to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
According to him, the visit will allow delegates to better understand how shared ICT systems are supporting governance and service delivery in the country.
“This engagement will provide an opportunity for African stakeholders to not only discuss policy frameworks but also see firsthand how digital public infrastructure is being deployed to improve efficiency, connectivity and innovation in the public sector,” Okpala said.
He added that GBB’s hosting role reflects its growing importance in advancing digital governance and infrastructure development across the continent.
“Galaxy Backbone is increasingly positioned as a key enabler of trusted digital infrastructure, and this engagement reinforces that role within Nigeria and beyond,” he noted.
Speaking ahead of the programme, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the future of Africa’s digital economy depends on the ability of countries to work together in building resilient systems.
“No single country can achieve the level of transformation required on its own. We must share knowledge, align strategies, and invest in systems that can serve the entire continent,” Adeyanju said.
According to the statement, the engagement will feature a continental dialogue themed “Building Africa’s Digital Foundations Together,” bringing together stakeholders from 11 African countries in Abuja.
The programme is being organised in partnership with Co-Develop, Smart Africa, and MicroSave Consulting, with discussions expected to focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital identity systems, secure connectivity, interoperability frameworks, and inclusive digital ecosystems.
GBB said delegates will also undertake a guided tour of its infrastructure and facilities in Abuja, where they will be exposed to Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and the systems supporting cloud services, cybersecurity, government connectivity, and digital platforms.
The company noted that the tour is intended to demonstrate how shared ICT infrastructure is strengthening governance and enabling more efficient public service delivery.
Participants are expected to explore practical pathways for accelerating the deployment of digital public infrastructure to support economic growth and institutional reforms across Africa.
GBB maintained that the initiative also confirms Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for digital innovation and infrastructure development, while deepening cooperation among African nations.
MTN Nigeria reinforced its commitment to supporting African storytelling and emerging creative talent at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites.
MTN Nigeria
Hosted by Bovi Ugboma and Nomzamo Mbatha, the star-studded event brought together some of the biggest names in African film, television, and entertainment for a night celebrating creativity, culture, and cinematic excellence.
As part of its participation at the Awards Night, MTN Nigeria sponsored the Best Short Film category, one of the standout moments of the evening aimed at recognising and rewarding emerging filmmakers shaping the future of African storytelling.
The award was presented by the General Manager, Enterprise Sales, MTN Nigeria, Febisola Oyeleye, alongside actor Jide Oyegbile.
The winning film, Hussaini, by filmmakers Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa, earned both the prestigious AMVCA recognition and a ₦5 million cash prize sponsored by MTN Nigeria.
Speaking during the presentation of the cash prize to the winners, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, reiterated MTN’s commitment to youth empowerment and supporting the creative industry through platforms that spotlight emerging talent.
According to her, the brand remains intentional about supporting young Nigerians who continue to push boundaries through creativity and storytelling. “At MTN, one of the things that we are so committed to is youth empowerment.
We believe that the youth of Nigeria are actually the future of the country. When we see young people being productive and coming out tops in what they do, it speaks to their commitment and ability to move beyond boundaries.
One of the ways we support the creative industry is through the short film category, and we are delighted to see deserving winners who are obviously on their way to great things,” she said.
The filmmakers behind Hussaini also celebrated the win, with one of the creators describing it as a defining moment after multiple nominations in the category.
“This is our last nomination in this category, and I’m excited we finally have it,” he said. “Next year, we are coming for Best Feature Film.”
Beyond the Awards Night, MTN’s presence throughout the AMVCA week extended to initiatives such as Young Filmmakers Day and the #MTNFilmChallenge, both designed to spotlight emerging talent and create opportunities for young creatives to tell authentic Nigerian and African stories through film and digital content.
With its continued investment in platforms that celebrate creativity and empower young storytellers, MTN Nigeria once again highlighted the important role partnerships can play in shaping the future of Africa’s entertainment industry.
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