Buhari Orders Police, DSS, NSCDC Others to Protect Telecommunications Infrastructure Nationwide

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security Officers in Nigeria to protect telecommunications infrastructure in the country.

Federal Government gave this directive to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The directive receives the approval of the Federal Government upon request by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy over the provision of security for telecommunications infrastructure nationwide

The Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister Of Communications & Digital Economy, Uwa Suleiman made this known through a statement on Tuesday.

Recall, Business Remarks reported last week mobile network operators displeasure over vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria.

According to Uwa, the protection of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure has being the Minister priority since his inception in office.

Uwa said FG directed necessary physical protective measures to be emplaced to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure deployed across the country.

According to her, “The Honourable Minister is delighted to inform stakeholders in the telecommunications industry that, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved and also directed that necessary physical protective measures be emplaced to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure deployed across the country.”

“The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been notified of Mr President’s directive. We are also working towards the reinforcement of these directives through appropriate regulatory instruments.”

“Dr Pantami specially appreciates the security institutions, and commends the commitment they have demonstrated in securing these infrastructure.” she said.

READ ALSO: ICT Contribution to GDP Rises by 0.97% in Q1 2020

Speaking on National Broadband Plan (NBP), Uwa explained that implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, has repositioned the ICT Sector.
She said that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has showed that ICT sector contributed an unprecedented 14.07% to the total real GDP in the first quarter of 2020.”

“The implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, both unveiled by Mr. President, have repositioned the ICT sector. This is evident by the recent ‘Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product Report’ released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which showed that the ICT sector contributed an unprecedented 14.07% to the total real GDP in the first quarter of 2020.”

“The Honorable Minister is truly grateful for the timely approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and we are confident that this will address the challenge of vandalism of our Critical National Infrastructure. It will also go a long way in supporting the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025).”

“Finally, the Federal Government strongly urges the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to ensure that they further reduce the price of data and calls for citizens. This is to reciprocate this gesture, and to submit a comprehensive list of their facility locations all over the country.” she elucidated.