NCC, judiciary pledge deeper collaboration to safeguard connectivity

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the judiciary have pledged deeper collaboration to safeguard connectivity, protect critical infrastructure and strengthen online safety as the country accelerates into a digital future.

They made this pledge at the opening of the 2026 Workshop for Justices and Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications, jointly organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The two-day workshop, held in Lagos, brought together Supreme Court justices, judges of federal and state high courts, regulators and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the theme: “Adjudicating in the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety.”

Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, painted a vivid picture of Nigeria’s digital transformation.

He revealed that broadband penetration had surged from 47.7 per cent in 2025 to 54.3 per cent in 2026, while data consumption had reached unprecedented levels.

“In March 2026 alone, Nigerians consumed over 1.42 million terabytes of data, equivalent to more than 15 million hours of high definition video every single day,” he said.

Maida, represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said telecom operators invested over $1 billion in network expansion last year, underscoring the sector’s resilience and its critical role in economic growth.

He warned that progress was under constant threat from vandalism, fibre cuts, theft of equipment and sabotage.

The EVC stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had designated telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, requiring whole-of-government protection.

The NCC, he noted, was working closely with security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser to disrupt syndicates involved in telecom equipment theft.

He disclosed that the Commission had also launched the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) to combat SIM card fraud, number recycling and identity-related abuses.

“We have already signed an MoU with the Central Bank of Nigeria to enhance visibility in fighting e-fraud, and will extend this collaboration to EFCC, NIMC and other agencies,” Maida added.

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, emphasised that courts must adapt to the realities of a digital society.

“Governance, commerce, financial transactions, education and social interaction now depend substantially on digital connectivity,” she observed.

According to her, with this dependence come complex legal questions around regulation, accountability, rights protection and institutional responsibility.

Kekere-Ekun, represented by Honourable Justice Musa Saulawa, highlighted the judiciary’s growing involvement in disputes over cyber fraud, privacy violations, misinformation and infrastructure protection, among others.

She stressed the need for judicial officers to balance freedom of expression with public safety and privacy, applying legal principles with discipline and foresight. Drawing parallels with jurisdictions such as the UK, India and the EU, she noted that Nigerian courts must be equally prepared to shape the legal architecture of the digital age.

She underscored the mutual responsibility between regulators and the judiciary. “Judgments of courts are not merely advisory opinions; they constitute authoritative statements of the law and form an essential framework within which regulatory discretion must operate,” she said.

Sustainable sectoral development, she argued, depends on regulators respecting judicial interpretations while courts uphold independence and fidelity to the rule of law.

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In his opening remarks, Administrator of the NJI, Justice B. A. Adejumo, described connectivity as fundamental to human existence and national stability.

He warned of rising privacy vulnerabilities, surveillance concerns, misinformation and algorithmic biases, noting that the judiciary must distinguish between meaningful connection and digital exploitation.

Adejumo emphasised the judiciary’s role in harmonising freedom of expression with privacy and security, requiring a sophisticated grasp of telecommunications law. He also called for stronger inter-agency collaboration to tackle vandalism, fibre optic damage, and risks posed by over-the-top services and the Internet of Things.

“Establishing a resilient and secure digital framework is, ultimately, a shared endeavour,” he said.