The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasized the need for a coordinated approach among West African nations to protect shared telecommunications infrastructure and enhance connectivity resilience in the region. This call comes in the wake of recent subsea cable cuts that disrupted internet traffic across several African countries, including Nigeria.
Aminu Maida, the executive vice-chairman of NCC, delivered this message during the 21st West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) annual general meeting (AGM) held in Sierra Leone. Represented by Nnena Ukoha, deputy director of public affairs at the commission, Maida highlighted the significance of securing telecom infrastructure to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and bolster investor confidence.
The recent submarine cable cuts, resulting in nationwide outages and affecting multiple networks in 12 African countries, underscored the urgent need for the subregion to establish mechanisms for protecting submarine infrastructure. Maida stressed that the reliability and resilience of telecommunications networks are critical factors for regional economic growth and competitiveness.
To address these challenges, Maida proposed the establishment of a framework for joint monitoring, risk mitigation, and emergency response procedures for submarine cables passing through the subregion. He urged the WATRA Working Group on Infrastructure to expand its mandate to develop a comprehensive strategy for safeguarding telecommunications networks and associated infrastructure.
Furthermore, Maida called for efforts to strengthen sub-regional infrastructure resilience, promote connectivity diversification, conduct regular capacity assessments, and designate telecommunications infrastructure as critical national assets in member countries. By proactively addressing these issues, the region can better insulate itself from future disruptions and create a conducive environment for sustainable economic development.
