Nigeria: Stakeholders Urge Nigerian Government to Recognize Telecom Infrastructure as National Assets

Stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector are calling upon the Nigerian federal government to officially designate telecom infrastructure as critical national assets. They argue that a reliable telecommunications infrastructure is vital for enabling service providers to deliver their offerings in an interconnected ecosystem.

This appeal was made during the inaugural West Africa Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (WATISE), organized by TechnologyMirror, an ICT and Telecoms news platform, with support from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and IHS Towers Nigeria.

Engr. Spencer Itive, a telecom engineer and CEO of RS Engineering Global Limited, emphasized the urgency of the government’s commitment to safeguarding telecom infrastructure for the region’s digital economy aspirations. He criticized the government’s lack of decisive action in declaring these assets as critical national infrastructure, citing a recurring pattern of attacks on telecom infrastructure across the country. Itive underscored that communities perceive telecom deployments as favors to operators due to the absence of government commitment.

Highlighting the evolving landscape of partnerships between telecom companies, technology giants, governments, and startups, Itive noted that these collaborations would redefine the possibilities within the telecommunications sector.

Rachael Orumor, the CEO of Sens Orbit Nigeria, emphasized that over 20 million businesses throughout Africa rely on technology to engage with their clients and potential customers. Orumor, based in the Republic of Benin, pointed out that digital transformation in West Africa is propelled by increased infrastructure investments, growing awareness of technology’s advantages, and supportive regulatory conditions. She stressed the limited access to education, particularly for rural areas, where high-speed internet and reliable mobile services are lacking, highlighting the critical need for telecom infrastructure expansion in these regions.

Orumor also noted that leveraging connectivity and technology for socio-economic development in West Africa requires investment in infrastructure that not only supports the existing framework but also extends telecom services to underserved areas. She explained that reliable telecom infrastructure is essential for creating economic opportunities since many businesses rely on online tools and platforms to operate, making access to these resources crucial.

Mike Ofili, the CEO of Coloplus, a tower infrastructure company, shared insights during a panel discussion. He explained that returns on infrastructure investments are primarily realized in major cities where stability and a substantial market exist. Ofili acknowledged that the concentration of telecom infrastructure in major cities is largely due to challenges such as vandalism, security concerns, and high right-of-way (RoW) charges experienced across the country. He further noted that even within major cities, RoW charges, especially in Lagos, are high, but operators manage to sustain their infrastructure deployments due to the better returns offered by these areas.