The Nigeria Information Technology Reporter’s Association (NITRA) and the Association of Licenced Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) are bringing industry stakeholders together this Thursday to review the implementation of the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
The discussion will take place at the first-ever CNII & Telecom Sustainability Conference 2025, an event organized by NITRA and ALTON in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other key industry players, including IHS Towers, Digital Realty, and 9mobile Nigeria.
The conference’s theme, “Telecoms Industry Sustainability and the CNII Act – Way Forward,” will guide discussions on protecting and sustaining crucial national infrastructure. The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, is expected to attend. Representatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Peace Corps Nigeria will also be present to discuss security, stakeholder roles, and the practical implementation of the order.
Keynote speeches will be delivered by NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, and the President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). IHS Towers will provide insights into the current state of infrastructure in the country. A panel session will focus on the “Role expectations of stakeholders in the implementation of the CNII Act.”
The Nigerian Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order, 2024, signed in June 2024, is an extension of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015. It aims to safeguard vital systems like telecommunications, financial networks, and power grids by designating them as CNII and outlining measures for their protection.
Panelists will address several key questions, including:
- How can we ensure the order is fully implemented?
- What are the specific roles of each stakeholder, from government to consumers?
- How are telecom companies adopting the CNII provisions?
- Is the order complete as is, or are there areas that need further review?
- What is the role of regulators in ensuring public compliance?
- How can security be effectively ensured?
- What is the place of collaboration among stakeholders?
- How can public awareness of the CNII provisions be increased?
- How can Nigeria’s telecommunications sector maintain its growth and development?
According to Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, NITRA’s General Secretary, this collaborative event will allow stakeholders to review the order’s implementation and “re-strategize, if necessary, on the way forward.”
“This has to be a periodic gathering to make the goals of this order achievable,” Nwankwo said.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, and Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman of NITRA, will be on hand to welcome attendees.