The Information Technology Reporters Association of Nigeria (NITRA), in collaboration with the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), is set to host a high-level industry forum focused on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and sustainable telecommunications development.

The event, themed “Industry Sustainability and CNII Conference 2025 – The Way Forward”, will take place on July 30, 2025, at CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. It comes on the heels of the recent declaration of the telecom sector as Critical National Infrastructure by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While the CNII designation is a significant policy milestone, industry stakeholders caution that legislative declarations alone will not guarantee infrastructure protection. The upcoming forum aims to explore practical pathways for implementation, including internal standardisation, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and grassroots engagement.

“The sustainability of Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure must go beyond declarations. It demands coordinated action across federal, state, private, and public stakeholders,” said Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman of NITRA.

The forum will feature keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, and stakeholder engagement sessions to address critical questions such as:

How can the CNII law be implemented effectively?
What specific roles should each stakeholder – including operators, regulators, state governments, and consumers – play?
Are telecom companies aligning with CNII requirements?
How can the public be better informed and engaged in protecting national telecom assets?

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, is expected to deliver a keynote address, alongside representatives from telecom operators, regulators, security agencies, infrastructure providers, and civil society.

Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, noted persistent threats such as vandalism, theft of telecom equipment, community resistance to infrastructure deployment, and uncoordinated installations as critical challenges to be addressed.

“We continue to witness the theft of fibre cables, manhole covers, and base station components. This affects service delivery and national security,” Adebayo stated.

According to Chidiebere Nwankwo, General Secretary of NITRA, the forum will also provide space for grassroots feedback, allowing communities and civic actors to contribute to the national dialogue on infrastructure safety.

NITRA emphasised that protecting CNII is vital to national security, economic growth, and the digital transformation agenda. The destruction or disruption of telecom infrastructure, the group warned, could paralyse essential services and compromise public safety.

The conference is expected to result in a stakeholder communique with actionable recommendations to guide CNII enforcement and foster long-term telecom sustainability in Nigeria.