The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has reinitiated discussions aimed at safeguarding submarine cables and other critical digital infrastructure. This move comes in the wake of recent disruptions caused by undersea cable cuts, which severely impacted telecommunications in Nigeria and several other West African countries.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed this development during his meeting with ITU Deputy Secretary-General, Tomas Lamanauskas, at the ITU headquarters in Geneva. The ITU, headquartered in Geneva, is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for matters related to information and communication technology.
Expressing optimism about the discussions, Minister Tijani emphasized the need to bolster resilience in digital infrastructure following the recent incidents. He underscored the importance of initiating dialogue to enhance protection measures for submarine cables and other vital digital assets.
In a statement following the meeting, Minister Tijani stated, “Following the recent cuts to submarine cables off the coast of West Africa, I spoke about my desire to initiate dialogue on building resilience in our digital infrastructure, so I was pleased to meet with Tomas Lamanauskas, the Deputy Secretary-General of the ITU, in Geneva today (Wednesday) to kickstart action on organizing regional and global efforts for the protection of submarine cables and other digital infrastructure.”
The discussions between the Federal Government and the ITU focused on reviewing global regulations in collaboration with relevant government and private sector stakeholders. The aim is to ensure the enhancement of global digital resilience plans and strengthen mechanisms for safeguarding critical digital infrastructure against potential disruptions.
The resumption of talks between Nigeria and the ITU reflects the government’s commitment to proactively address challenges in the telecommunications sector and ensure uninterrupted connectivity for citizens and businesses. Collaborative efforts with international organizations like the ITU are essential in developing comprehensive strategies to protect digital infrastructure and advance the country’s digital transformation agenda.
