The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has unveiled a global initiative aimed at bolstering the protection of undersea cables, a vital component of global connectivity.
Tijani made this announcement via X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, highlighting the indispensable role of these cables in the digital economy. He emphasized the imperative of revising international regulations and forging alliances with regional and global entities to expedite efforts in safeguarding this critical infrastructure.
Assuring affected parties of swift resolution, Tijani assured that the Nigerian Communications Commission is actively engaged with relevant stakeholders to address ongoing disruptions.
This initiative, he asserted, represents a significant stride towards fortifying the resilience and dependability of undersea cables, which serve as essential arteries in today’s interconnected world.
Recent cuts to undersea cables supplying broadband Internet to Nigeria and the West African sub-region prompted operational reductions in banks, financial institutions, telecom companies, and related enterprises. Cable providers—West African Cable System and African Coast to Europe—have experienced faults, along with downtime in SAT3 and MainOne.
Tijani noted that while submarine cable disruptions are disruptive, they also serve as a catalyst for resilience and growth in the digital economy. He commended telcos such as Globacom, West Indian Ocean Cable Company, MTN, and MainOne for their collaborative efforts in mitigating the impacts of these disruptions.
Tijani wrote, “I must commend the selflessness shown by the leadership of @GloWorld @WIOCC_ @MTNNG @Mainoneservice and the entire sector in coming together to limit the impact of the cuts. Your actions are helping us all to better prepare for the future.
“This is also an opportunity for us to review international laws and collaborations to adequately protect undersea cables, and I will be engaging regional and global bodies to accelerate efforts on this crucial agenda.
“To those experiencing disruption, please rest assured that @NgComCommission is working with all key stakeholders to resolve the matter in the shortest possible time.”
