The CNII & Sustainability Conference 2025, a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) and the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has been rescheduled for August 7, 2025, in Lagos. This decision, approved by the nation’s telecommunications regulator, aims to foster a more robust conversation around the recent declaration of telecom infrastructure as a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).
Initially slated for July 30, 2025, the conference was moved to accommodate an all-inclusive telecom stakeholders’ event organized by the regulator. The event also has the support of other industry associations, including the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
Addressing the impact of CNI designation
The ‘Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024’ was passed in August 2024. However, the industry has yet to realize its impact fully. NITRA, in a statement announcing the joint forum, emphasized that merely declaring the CNII order as an Act doesn’t guarantee infrastructure safety. It highlighted the necessity of resolving internal and standardization issues among operators first.
The conference, themed “Industry Sustainability And CNII Conference 2025 – Way Forward,” will bring together stakeholders at the CitiHeight Hotel, Ikeja, to discuss practical solutions. The organizers stress that the mere passage of the Bill alone will not achieve the desired results.
Key questions stakeholders will address include:
- How can this law be effectively implemented?
- Are there aspects of the Act that require further review, or is it comprehensive as is?
- What are the specific roles of all stakeholders—Federal and State governments, operators, consumers, and other actors?
- How are individual telecom companies and service providers integrating CNII provisions into their operations?
- What is the role of regulators in ensuring public compliance with the Act?
- How can security be enhanced?
- What is the significance of collaboration in this context?
- What is the public’s awareness level regarding CNII provisions?
- How can the growth and development of telecommunications in Nigeria be sustained?
Panel discussions will delve into these questions, focusing on industry sustainability and CNII implementation.
Expected attendees and importance
The conference is expected to draw a diverse range of attendees, including the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, network operators, security agencies, regulators, media, infrastructure companies, and decision-makers from both private and public sectors.
According to a statement from NITRA, “It is a known fact that the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) is crucial to the survivability of a nation, and that the destruction or disruption of these systems and communication networks would significantly affect the economic strength, image, defense and security, government capabilities to function, and public health and safety.”
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, previously underscored the importance of proper infrastructure maintenance and upgraded installations to prevent vandalism and theft. Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman of NITRA, emphasized the need for stakeholders to collaborate and devise strategies for securing telecom infrastructure, building upon the Federal Government’s CNII proclamation. He noted that the forum aims to formulate implementation measures for the Act’s provisions and enforce compliance, which will be the key outcomes of the Lagos event.