The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasised the critical role of telecommunications in safeguarding national security, particularly in situations that demand effective communication.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, made this known during an interactive session with members of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) on Thursday in Abuja.
Represented by Mrs Nnena Ukoha, Head of Corporate Communications Management in the Public Affairs Department, Maida stated that national security could not be achieved without reliable telecommunications.
He noted that the NCC is committed to working with security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those who vandalise Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) across the country.
“Anyone found liable for damaging or disrupting CNII will be prosecuted going forward.
“We are working with relevant agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to tackle these problems and prosecute offenders.
“We started highlighting the need for an order to protect the infrastructure so that people will know that those infrastructure are critical to service provision.
“We all know that telecommunication services are now vital in all aspects of the economy. If the infrastructure are not well maintained, all socio-economic activities will be affected,” he said.
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Maida further stressed the importance of stable telecom infrastructure across all sectors of the economy.
“We all know that telecommunication infrastructure plays a vital role in national security due to increasing cyber threats and vulnerabilities that can damage and disrupt communication infrastructure.
“Telecommunication also plays a vital role in public welfare, contributing to the growth of a digital society.
“It provides an enabling environment for socialisation and access to services. Without a robust telecommunication infrastructure, the public cannot fully enjoy these services provided,” he added.
Earlier, the President of NITRA, Mr Blessing Olaifa, expressed hope for a more robust partnership between the NCC and the media.
