Govt to Declare Telecoms Facilities as Critical Infrastructure

The Federal Government is set to declare telecommunications facilities
across the country as critical national infrastructure. The Minister of
Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, disclosed this at a reception and
presentation of the Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission in Abuja.

Shittu also stated that the telecommunications sector had attracted $60
billion investment since the introduction of digital mobile services in the
country 17 years ago.

The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, also explained that the regulatory agency intervened in the case of indebtedness between Etisalat and a consortium of banks to avoid the negative consequences of a takeover of the telecommunications company.

The minister said a memo for the declaration of telecommunications
facilities as critical national infrastructure was ready to be presented to
the Federal Executive Council.