‘Threat to Nigeria’s digital future’ – Ribadu warns against arbitrary levies, telecom site closures
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning to state governments against shutting down telecommunications sites over revenue or local disputes.
Ribadu gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at a Business Roundtable on Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure, saying such actions threaten Nigeria’s digital future and economic growth.
Represented by the Director of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Enebong Effiom, the NSA stated that arbitrary site closures, multiple taxation, and inconsistent right-of-way charges were hindering the country’s broadband expansion.
“In fact, aside from the right-of-way issues, there is this idea by states where they want to generate revenue with the state’s internal security architecture, consult some figures, and then before you know it, the sites are closed and we’ve had to intervene in such instances.
“We hope that at the end of this engagement, such actions will stop, because these state security structures do not understand the implications.
“They think they are helping their bosses, whereas they are actually limiting the potential of the states and constraining economic development within the country,” he added.
DAILY POST recalls that earlier in July 2025 the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, renewed calls for the harmonisation of taxes and levies in the telecommunications sector, warning that the existing fiscal burden is undermining the industry’s potential.
The NSA further stressed that broadband facilities should not be treated as ordinary business ventures, but rather as critical national assets.
He further explained that Nigeria’s broadband penetration stands at about 40 per cent, far below the 70 per cent target of the National Broadband Plan 2020–2025.
