NCC EVC Calls for Unified Action to Safeguard Telecom Infrastructure and Boost Broadband Investment

NCC EVC Calls for Unified Action to Safeguard Telecom Infrastructure and Boost Broadband Investment

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA October, 2025 -

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has called for urgent and unified action by state governments, industry players, and security agencies to accelerate broadband investment and protect Nigeria’s critical telecommunications infrastructure.

Speaking at a Business Roundtable themed “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity” held at the NCC Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Dr. Maida said connectivity is the new driver of economic inclusion, productivity, and national resilience.

Highlighting Nigeria’s broadband penetration at 48.81% as of August 2025, he noted that a 10% increase in broadband access could yield up to 1.38% GDP growth in developing economies. He emphasized that with over 200 million citizens and a median age of 18, Nigeria has the potential to become a continental digital powerhouse—if supported by reliable and affordable broadband infrastructure.

Dr. Maida outlined key NCC initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, including the enforcement of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order, advocacy for reduced Right of Way (RoW) fees, investor confidence reforms, and nationwide campaigns to protect telecom assets. He revealed that 11 states have now waived RoW fees, while 17 others have adopted the approved N145 per meter rate, stressing that uniform policies and fibre-friendly environments are crucial for achieving the National Broadband Plan’s 70% penetration target by 2025.

Describing vandalism, fibre cuts, and inconsistent state regulations as major setbacks, he disclosed that between January and August 2025, the country recorded over 19,000 fibre cuts and more than 3,000 equipment thefts. Dr. Maida urged governors to adopt full RoW waivers, enforce telecom protection laws, and create incentives for rural broadband expansion.

He concluded by unveiling two key NCC initiatives—the Ease of Doing Business Portal and the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI)—designed to enhance transparency, streamline approvals, and measure states’ digital readiness annually. “The digital revolution does not wait,” he said. “Let us align, invest, and protect—so that our youth become creators, not merely consumers, of digital value.”