Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for stronger collaboration with the judiciary to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure, tackle cybercrime and promote online safety amid Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Mr Aminu Maida, made the call at the opening of the 2026 Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications on Thursday in Lagos.
Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Mrs Rimini Makama, said the judiciary would play a critical role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
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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.
According to him, issues surrounding digital connectivity, cybersecurity and infrastructure protection have become central to national development.
Maida said Nigeria’s digital ecosystem had recorded 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 added that Nigerians consumed over 1.42 million terabytes of data in March 2026, compared to 995,000 terabytes recorded in March 2025.
“This is roughly equivalent to Nigerians watching over 15 million hours of high-definition video every single day,” he said.
The NCC boss disclosed that telecommunications operators invested more than one billion dollars in network expansion in 2025, resulting in the deployment of thousands of new telecom sites nationwide.
Despite the progress, he expressed concern over persistent attacks on telecom infrastructure, including vandalism, fibre cuts, equipment theft and sabotage.
Maida noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had designated telecommunications assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
According to him, the commission is collaborating with security agencies, operators and stakeholders on nationwide asset mapping, public sensitisation and stricter enforcement measures.
He said collaboration between the NCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser had already disrupted criminal syndicates involved in telecom equipment theft and resale.
On cybercrime and identity fraud, Maida said the commission had introduced the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System to address SIM-related fraud, identity theft and number recycling abuses.
He added that the NCC had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Bank of Nigeria to combat electronic fraud linked to phone numbers and financial services.
The commission, he said, would deepen collaboration with agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Identity Management Commission.
Maida also raised concerns over online harms including misinformation, hate speech, child exploitation and data privacy breaches.
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He said the NCC had reviewed its Internet Code of Practice to promote responsible internet governance while balancing innovation with consumer protection.
According to him, the courts would increasingly be required to interpret laws, resolve disputes and establish precedents that would shape investor confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to continued collaboration with the National Judicial Institute through capacity-building initiatives in telecommunications and digital law.
