*The Nigerian Communications Commission warns Nigerians against the far-reaching effects of damaging national information infrastructure on telecoms consumers, businesses, social services, and the entire economy

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

As part of its continual consumer education and sensitisation initiatives, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasised that damaging telecoms infrastructure as a significant aspect of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) negatively affects all Nigerians.

绿帽献妻 reports the NCC, in a series of recent public enlightenment messages via digital platforms, warned all Nigerians against the far-reaching impact of damaged telecoms infrastructure on consumers, businesses, social services, and the entire economy.

Telecoms consumers

It has also been said that telecommunications industry is the very pivot upon which all other sectors of the economy rotate.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, August 2024, had signed and issued an Executive Order (EO) on Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure as a consequential need to protect the country鈥檚 communication assets from vandalisation, theft, robbery, arson, and other dangers lurking around the ecosystem.

NCC intensifies public enlightenment campaign

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission also averred: “Damaging telecoms infrastructure affects us all鈥攆rom access to healthcare and mobile banking to education and staying connected with loved ones.”

In regard to the extent of damage to Nigeria’s critical national assets in recent years, the NCC July 2025, restated that “over 50,000 cases of vandalism have been reported in the last five years.”

Hitherto, the Commission had activated series of public enlightenment campaign initiatives to sensitise Nigerian public about the collective efforts at safeguarding the CNII and other national assets with USSD messages to telecoms consumers鈥� mobile phones and others devices.

In one of such sensitisation messages via several digital platforms, the NCC stated: 鈥淧rotect Nigeria鈥檚 telecoms infrastructure! They are critical national assets protected by law.

鈥淩eport vandalism to cniireport@ncc.gov.ng or dial 622. Let鈥檚 safeguard our future!鈥�

Underscoring the significance of protecting the national information infrastructure in the telecoms ecosystem, the industry regulator, in another Short Messaging Service (SMS) also said, 鈥渢elecoms infrastructure is a national treasure! Let鈥檚 protect it together.”

The Commission further urged all Nigerians: “Let鈥檚 protect the network that connects us.

Report any suspicious activity to protect@ncc.gov.ng or call 622.”

Consumers’ reactions to regulatory efforts at protecting CNII

Responding the Commission’s latest round of sensitisation campaigns against destruction of telecoms infrastructure in the month, several consumers have taken to their social media accounts to comment on the ongoing sentisitisation campaign against infrastructure vandalism.

Ihechi Chukwuma, a telecoms consumer who wrote via his verified social media account, agreed with NCC on the necessity of protecting Nigeria’s CNII.

Chukwuma stated: “When network infrastructure is damaged, it doesn鈥檛 just disrupt connectivity 鈥� it affects businesses, emergency services, and everyday life.

“It leads to dropped calls, delayed payments, and impacts critical services like healthcare and security.”

He also affirmed that “protecting and maintaining this infrastructure is vital to ensure seamless communication and drive digital inclusion across Nigeria.”

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