Nigeria’s telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and senior members of the judiciary have called for stronger legal and institutional measures to address rising cybercrime, vandalism of telecom infrastructure, and broader digital security risks as the country’s digital economy expands.
Recent data shows significant theft and vandalism of telecom assets—656 generators and batteries stolen in 2025, 1,344 diesel thefts, 49 sabotage cases, and more than 50,000 infrastructure-destruction incidents over five years. Industry groups report about 1,100 fibre cuts weekly this year and 445 vandalism incidents in an 88-day window.
At a 2-day workshop in Lagos organized by the National Judicial Institute and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), justices, judges, regulators, security officials and industry experts urged closer coordination between courts, regulators and security agencies to protect critical communications infrastructure and adjudicate digitally rooted disputes.
- Judicial preparedness: Chief Justice and NJI chair Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun stressed that the judiciary must adapt to a society shaped by digital systems, noting courts increasingly face cyber-related offences, privacy disputes, infrastructure conflicts and regulatory matters that demand technological awareness.
- Regulatory response and partnerships: NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida highlighted rapid digital adoption—data use rose from 995,000 TB in March 2025 to 1.42 million TB in March 2026, and broadband penetration increased from 47.7% to 54.3%—but warned these gains are vulnerable to vandalism, theft and cyber threats. The NCC is collaborating with security agencies, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and industry to disrupt criminal syndicates and protect assets.
- Technical and legal initiatives: The NCC launched a Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System to counter SIM-related fraud and identity abuse and signed an MoU with the Central Bank of Nigeria to help fight e-fraud; the program will be extended to other agencies (EFCC, NIMC). The commission has also reviewed the Internet Code of Practice to promote responsible internet governance.
- Balance of rights and security: NJI Administrator Justice Babatunde Adejumo and other speakers warned that the digital era complicates the balance between freedom of expression, privacy and national security. They urged judges to develop technical understanding and called for stronger inter-agency cooperation to protect infrastructure and manage risks from emerging technologies (e.g., IoT, OTT services).
- Legal certainty and regulatory harmony: Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized that regulatory actions should align with judicial interpretations to ensure legal certainty, reduce conflict and strengthen public confidence. Judicial decisions from overseas (UK, India, EU, South Africa) are already shaping global thinking on data protection and platform regulation.
As Nigeria rapidly deepens internet access and digital services, government, regulators and the judiciary warn that increasing cybercrime and physical attacks on telecom infrastructure threaten service continuity, national security and economic participation. They call for a more technologically literate judiciary, tighter inter-agency coordination, and firmer legal protections for critical infrastructure, and regulatory measures that work in concert with court rulings to safeguard the country’s digital transformation.
