IHS Nigeria is partnering with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to combat persistent theft and sabotage targeting telecoms infrastructure across the country.
The collaboration, sealed through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), seeks to protect key national infrastructure including tower sites and fibre optic networks that underpin Nigeria’s digital economy, according to IHS Nigeria.
IHS Nigeria, one of the nation’s largest operators of shared communications infrastructure, currently owns and operates over 16,000 towers and has deployed more than 15,000 kilometres of fibre across Nigeria.
IHS Nigeria, one of the nation’s largest operators of shared communications infrastructure, currently owns and operates over 16,000 towers and has deployed more than 15,000 kilometres of fibre across Nigeria.
Under the agreement, NSCDC is supporting IHS Nigeria with enhanced site surveillance, emergency response coordination, incident reporting, and the investigation and prosecution of infrastructure vandals.
Mohamad Darwish, Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, says the strategic alliance reinforces the company’s efforts to strengthen the resilience and reliability of Nigeria’s telecommunications systems.
“At IHS, we are key enablers of connectivity. This partnership with the NSCDC is a critical step towards ensuring more secure and reliable telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria,” Darwish says.
He adds that the NSCDC’s mandate to enforce the law designating telecoms towers as critical national information infrastructure aligns with IHS Nigeria’s infrastructure security goals. “By working together, we aim to enhance service quality for all users across the country,” he says.
Ahmad Abubakar, Commandant General of NSCDC, describes IHS Nigeria as a strategic partner in the protection of national assets.
“The Corps is mandated to protect critical national infrastructure, and IHS Nigeria’s extensive network clearly falls within this scope. Their infrastructure is integral to the operations of many public and private institutions,” Abubakar says.
NSCDC says it is committing operational resources to ensure increased security for telecoms infrastructure, in a move the agency believes will deter criminal interference and support broader digital transformation goals.
Ahmad Abubakar, Commandant General of NSCDC also highlighted the significance of the collaboration.
“The Corp,” according to Abubakar, “has a mandate to safeguard critical national infrastructure, and IHS Nigeria’s extensive telecommunications assets and network falls squarely within this mandate. We consider IHS to be a strategic partner whose infrastructure is essential to the operations of many organizations across the country.”
The Civil Defence Corps pledges to provide heightened level of operational excellence and support, one which will be focused on securing telecommunications infrastructure more effectively than ever before.
The partnership is being described by both parties as a significant milestone in securing Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem and ensuring uninterrupted connectivity nationwide.
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