WorldStage– The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) says Nigeria’s ambition to lead Africa’s digital economy will remain unattainable unless telecommunications infrastructure is adequately protected and sustained.
The ALTON Chairman, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said this on Thursday at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference in Lagos.
He said telecommunications had become the foundation for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital finance, education and national security.
Adebayo said the country’s digital transformation had made telecom infrastructure as critical as roads, power and other strategic national assets.
He warned that every attack on telecom facilities disrupted businesses, financial transactions, emergency communications and public services relied upon by millions of Nigerians.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy depends on technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, satellite broadband, the Internet of Things and 5G. None of these can succeed without resilient telecommunications infrastructure,” he said.
The ALTON boss said the industry had evolved from fewer than 500,000 telephone lines before GSM to more than 200 million active subscriptions, transforming virtually every aspect of national life.
He recalled spending hours at international telephone centres before mobile telephony, saying today’s seamless communication demonstrated how indispensable telecommunications had become.
Adebayo said Nigerians could now conduct banking, healthcare, education, commerce and government transactions from their mobile devices because of sustained investments in telecommunications.
He, however, said rising energy costs, infrastructure vandalism, multiple taxation and Right of Way challenges continued to threaten network expansion and service quality.
He commended the Federal Government for designating telecommunications facilities as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), describing the policy as a major step towards protecting strategic digital assets.
Adebayo also praised the Nigerian Communications Commission for maintaining regulatory policies that balanced consumer protection with investment sustainability.
He said collaboration among government, regulators, security agencies, host communities and consumers remained essential to safeguarding telecom assets across the country.
The ALTON chairman said attacks on telecom infrastructure delayed repairs, increased operating costs and slowed network expansion, ultimately affecting consumers.
He said replacing damaged facilities often required significant investment and lengthy approval processes, making prevention more effective than restoration.
Adebayo stressed that improved quality of service would require coordinated action by all stakeholders, noting that operators alone could not overcome challenges created outside their networks.
He also dismissed reports of an ongoing review of telecommunications tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission, saying no such process was underway.
Adebayo reaffirmed operators’ commitment to expanding broadband access, improving network quality and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy through sustained investment.He expressed confidence that with stronger infrastructure protection and enabling policies, Nigeria could position itself among Africa’s leading digital economies.
