By George Ozalla
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has emphasized the significance of designating telecoms infrastructure as critical national assets. This move aims to protect the country’s digital economy and ensure a stable and secure communication network.
As the head of NCC, Dr. Maida brings over 15 years of experience in FinTech, telecoms, and enterprise technology. Prior to his appointment, he served as Executive Director of Technology and Operations at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) and held senior roles at Cisco Systems UK and EE, part of BT Group.
The designation of telecoms infrastructure as critical national assets provides a framework to tackle challenges like vandalism, fiber cuts, and restricted access to facilities. Dr. Maida highlighted that when vandalism occurs, it’s not just operators that lose, but ordinary Nigerians who feel the impact when banking, healthcare, and emergency systems fail.
The NCC has been working to protect these assets through proactive advocacy and strategic collaboration with key stakeholders. Dr. Maida’s leadership and vision for the telecoms industry aim to increase its contribution to Nigeria’s GDP and promote digital inclusion.
