The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is advocating for international collaboration to address the growing disruptions and damages to submarine cables, which are essential to global connectivity. These interruptions pose a significant threat to the digital economy worldwide.
Speaking at the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, held in Abuja, Nigeria, Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, emphasized the need for global efforts to enhance submarine cable resilience. He highlighted the critical importance of this issue, as it impacts various sectors globally.
Tijani stated, “Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria is committed to strengthening digital infrastructure and advancing policies that support connectivity, innovation, and economic growth. Our efforts are aligned with national initiatives to ensure digital resilience across all sectors.”
The Minister also reiterated that Nigeria is prioritizing the protection of its digital infrastructure as a vital part of its economic and technological transformation, ensuring that connectivity continues to foster growth.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin also addressed the summit, underlining the urgency of safeguarding submarine cable networks, which form the backbone of 95% of global digital connectivity. She pointed out the rapid expansion of the digital economy, which is now a major driver of global GDP growth. The sector is expected to reach $16.5 trillion by 2028.
Bogdan-Martin further noted that disruptions to submarine cables are a growing concern, with an estimated 200 incidents occurring annually. These disruptions complicate repair efforts across continents and significantly affect global economies, as submarine cables are essential for finance, trade, health, education, and governance.
The ITU Secretary-General commended Nigeria for hosting the summit and called for a collective strategy to strengthen the resilience of undersea cable infrastructure.
Sandra Maximiano, Co-Chair of the ITU Advisory Board, emphasized the critical role of submarine cable businesses in the global economy. She highlighted recent disruptions, such as cable cuts in March 2024, which affected multiple countries in West Africa, including Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. These incidents underscored the vulnerability of subsea networks, with some estimates indicating that over 70 million people were affected.
The summit, attended by over 300 delegates from 194 ITU member countries, brought together government representatives, telecom operators, policymakers, and technology experts to discuss strategies for protecting the global submarine cable network.
Key figures at the event included Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Faruk Yabo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; and Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
This summit aims to set the foundation for international cooperation and long-term resilience for submarine cable networks, ensuring that the digital economy can continue to grow sustainably.
