Protection Of Telecoms Infrastructure Necessary For Data Integrity – Army Chief
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has emphasised the need for protection of telecommunications infrastructure across the country, to guarantee data integrity, and operational continuity.
Oluyede gave the charge on Friday in Abuja at the second edition of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), strategic meeting with stakeholders on the Executive Order for Critical national information infrastructure.
The parley themed “Organised by ATCON the Stakeholders’ meeting themed, “Rallying Critical Stakeholders to Drive the Successful Execution of the Executive Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure”, had in attendance the 36 State Commissioners, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Permanent Secretaries, as well as Heads of ICT agencies.
Represented by Brig. Gen. Mohammed Lemu, the COAS recalled that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had recently listed telecommunications infrastructure as CNII.
Gen. Oluyede said: “Recall recently, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) classified telecommunication infrastructure as CNII”.
The development, he noted, “is vital to meet globalisation trends, Nigeria national security, economic competition and public safety.
“The effective protection of this infrastructure is paramount to ensure seamless communication, data integrity, operational continuity across all sectors and communication as key enablers of Command and Control in defence”.
Also speaking during the event, the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was represented by the Deputy Director Strategy, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Commandant, Onibito Ezekiel, argued that contemporary security management is now human-centred, as opposed to arms and ammunition.
According to Ribadu: “The reality shows that security has gone beyond arms and ammunition. Security is about human security.”
The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, further noted that the company of all major stakeholders: including security agencies, operators and governments will ensure the protection of national information infrastructure
“The global destiny of Nigeria will be shared by this association and every other player within the industry.”
“In this Artificial Intelligence era, raw data fuels innovation. We must safeguard both public and private data with robust policies, transcending profit motives for national interest.
“We would therefore need to develop the appropriate strategies and policies to guide data usage and guard our data in all its states, that is at rest, in transit or in motion.
“The telecom sector is the strategic enabler of Nigeria’s future. Let us rise above narrowed preference on interests to build an inclusive, affordable, and secure digital economy”, he stated.
On his part, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall, Hasan Abubakar, committed to continued partnership with stakeholders
Abubakar, who spoke through Air Vice Marshall, Felix Uwakara, said: “Let me reaffirm the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to enhance the resilience of our critical digital infrastructure”.
In his intervention, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, maintained that any threat to national information infrastructure, is a threat to national security.
“The Nigeria Police Force recognises that threat to our Information Infrastructure is a threat to our sovereignty, economic stability and public safety”, the police chief declared.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the President of ATCON, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, posited thus: “The Executive Order signed in 2024 has designated certain systems, facilities, and networks across our economy as “critical”.
“Our task here today is not to debate whether this policy is needed. It is to discuss how to make it work in practice. How to protect the assets it covers and how to prevent, or at least minimise, the effects of any damage or disruption to them”.
The Executive Vice Chairman EVC of the National Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, submitted that today’s telecommunications infrastructure has moved from physical to virtual.
Hear him: “As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, we stand at a crossroads of unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges.
“In a world increasingly defined by data and digital systems, our infrastructure is no longer just physical; it is virtual, interconnected, and crucial to every sector of society.”
