Nigeria Advocates Regional Protection Of Undersea Cables In West Africa

In response to recent undersea cable cuts that disrupted telecommunications connectivity in several West African countries, Nigeria has called for a coordinated regional approach to protect shared telecommunications infrastructure. The aim is to diversify connectivity and ensure uninterrupted connections across the region.

Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), delivered this call during the 21st West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from March 19 to 22, 2024.

The recent submarine cable cuts led to nationwide outages in multiple networks across 12 African countries, prompting urgent action to protect the subregion from further damage. Maida referenced a report by Cloudflare, an IT service management firm, which highlighted that six countries, including four West African countries, were still experiencing outages due to the cable cuts.

Maida emphasized the importance of securing telecom infrastructure for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and enhancing investor confidence in the region. He stated that reliable and resilient telecommunications networks are crucial for investors evaluating opportunities in the region.

He proposed the establishment of a framework for joint monitoring, risk mitigation, and emergency response procedures for the submarine cables passing through the subregion. Maida recommended expanding the mandate of the WATRA Working Group on Infrastructure to develop a comprehensive strategy for safeguarding the subregion’s telecommunications networks and infrastructure.

The AGM also discussed issues related to accessible and affordable telecommunication services in the subregion, including consumer protection, quality of service, roaming, and conflict resolution. Nigeria’s Engr. Yusuf Aliyu Aboki was reelected as the Executive Secretary of WATRA for a second term, receiving unanimous support from member countries.

Maida commended Aboki for his leadership and urged him to continue advancing the interests of the subregion through stronger partnerships and deeper collaboration. The NCC’s advocacy for regional protection of undersea cables underscores Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing telecommunications connectivity and promoting economic growth in West Africa.

March 24 2024.