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Judiciary key to protecting Nigeria’s digital economy, NCC Says
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that the judiciary plays a critical role in protecting Nigeria’s digital economy, telecommunications infrastructure, and online ecosystem from growing cyber and security threats.
KANO FOCUS The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, stated this on Thursday at the 2026 Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications held in Lagos.
Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Ms. Rimini Makama, said Nigeria’s increasing dependence on digital connectivity underscored the need for stronger legal and institutional protection of the telecommunications sector.
According to him, Nigerians consumed more than 1.42 million terabytes of data in March 2026, compared to 995,000 terabytes recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
He noted that the development reflected the country’s growing reliance on digital platforms and online services, driven by increased digital payments, e-commerce activities, startups, and technology-driven literacy programmes.
Maida added that daily data usage had risen to approximately 15 million hours of high-definition video streaming, up from 10.7 million hours recorded a year earlier.
He further disclosed that broadband penetration increased from 47.7 per cent in 2025 to 54.3 per cent in 2026, expanding access to faster and more reliable internet services across the country.
The NCC boss also revealed that telecommunications operators invested more than one billion dollars in network expansion projects in 2025, adding thousands of new telecommunications sites to improve coverage, service quality, and digital access, especially in underserved communities.
Despite the progress, Maida warned that vandalism, fibre cuts, theft, and sabotage continued to threaten telecommunications infrastructure, thereby endangering service reliability, national security, and public confidence in the digital economy.
He recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had designated telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, stressing that such assets require stronger protection from government institutions, security agencies, operators, and citizens because of their strategic national importance.
According to him, the NCC is collaborating with security agencies and telecommunications operators through a nationwide initiative involving asset mapping, advocacy, mediation, and enforcement to safeguard critical infrastructure.
He said the commission’s partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser had already disrupted criminal syndicates involved in the theft, vandalism, and illegal resale of telecommunications infrastructure and network equipment across the country.
Maida also disclosed that the NCC had introduced the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System to tackle SIM-related fraud, cybercrime, identity theft, and financial scams associated with telecommunications services.
He added that the commission had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Bank of Nigeria to address electronic fraud and telecom-related financial crimes affecting consumers and financial institutions.
The NCC, he said, would further strengthen collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the National Identity Management Commission, and other relevant agencies to combat cybercrime and protect legitimate telecom subscribers and digital consumers nationwide.
He identified misinformation, hate speech, child exploitation, data privacy breaches, and cybersecurity threats as major concerns associated with increasing internet penetration and the widespread adoption of digital communication platforms.
Maida said the commission had reviewed the Internet Code of Practice to promote responsible internet governance while balancing innovation, investment opportunities, and the protection of vulnerable citizens from online harms.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NCC Governing Board, Idris Olorunnimbe, said digital technologies had transformed governance, commerce, security systems, and social interactions globally.
Olorunnimbe noted that issues relating to cybersecurity, online harms, infrastructure protection, artificial intelligence, and consumer rights required stronger institutional collaboration and improved judicial understanding of Nigeria’s evolving digital and telecommunications regulatory environment.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would enhance the capacity of judges to effectively adjudicate telecommunications-related disputes while supporting innovation, protecting citizens, and safeguarding Nigeria’s critical digital infrastructure and broader digital economy.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Sports Commission has congratulated Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya on his redeployment as Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
KANO FOCUS reports that the commission described the redeployment as a welcome development, reflecting the confidence reposed in Waiya’s leadership ability, administrative experience and commitment to public service.
In a statement issued on Saturday, by the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Zulfa’at Abubakar Rano, the Chairman of the Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, expressed confidence that Waiya would bring his wealth of experience to bear on youth and sports development in the state.
Waiya was previously the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs before his redeployment in the minor cabinet reshuffle announced by the governor.
Babangida said the new commissioner’s experience in public service, communication, policy implementation and stakeholder engagement would contribute to advancing the ministry’s objectives and strengthening the sports sector.
He also pledged the commission’s readiness to collaborate with the ministry to promote grassroots sports, identify and nurture emerging talents, empower young people and improve Kano’s competitiveness in national and international sporting activities.
The chairman stressed that effective collaboration between the ministry and the commission would be crucial to achieving sustainable growth in the sports sector and creating more opportunities for youth participation and development.
He wished Waiya a successful tenure, expressing optimism that his appointment would bring innovation and further progress to youth and sports development in Kano State.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has sworn in six newly appointed commissioners, three advisers and 19 permanent secretaries as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ceremony followed the confirmation of the six commissioner nominees by the Kano State House of Assembly on October 26, 2026, after completing the legislative screening process.
The newly sworn-in commissioners are Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u (retd.), assigned to the Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services; Ibrahim Namadi Dala, Investment; Prof. Sani Lawan Manunfashi, Higher Education; Muktar Ishaq Yakasai, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, Science and Technology; and Idris Garba Mustapha, Special Duties.
In a related development, the governor announced a minor cabinet reshuffle involving the redeployment of two commissioners to different ministries.
Under the new arrangement, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, who previously served as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, has been moved to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Similarly, Hamza Kachaco has been redeployed to the Ministry of Environment.
The reshuffle leaves the Ministries of Information and Internal Affairs, as well as Solid Minerals and Mineral Resources, vacant pending further decisions by the state government.
According to a statement issued by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the appointments and redeployments are aimed at strengthening government institutions, improving administrative efficiency and repositioning key ministries for effective service delivery.
The governor urged the new appointees to demonstrate dedication, integrity and commitment to their responsibilities, stressing the need to prioritise public interest and contribute to the development of the state.
He also charged them to work collaboratively in advancing his administration’s development agenda and delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
Gov Yusuf congratulated the appointees and wished them success in their respective assignments.
Ibrahim Khalil
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has redeployed the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, to the Ministry of Youths and Sports as part of a cabinet reshuffle involving eight ministries.
KANO FOCUS reports that under the new arrangement, Waiya moves from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Youths and Sports, while Hon. Hamza Safyanu Kachako has been transferred from the Ministry of Mineral Resources to the Ministry of Environment.
The reshuffle also assigns new commissioners to several ministries.
Hon. Yushau Soja has been assigned to the Ministry of Internal Security, while Hon. Idris Garba Mustapha will oversee the Ministry of Special Duties.
Similarly, Hon. Muntari Ishaq Yakasai has been assigned to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Hon. Ibrahim Namadi Dala will head the Ministry of Commerce.
Other appointments include Hon. Ibrahim Tsanyawa as Commissioner for Science and Technology and Prof. Sani Lawal as Commissioner for Higher Education.
The reshuffle affects eight ministries, with the changes involving both new portfolio assignments and the redeployment of serving commissioners.
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