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Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has been appointed co-chair of the International Telecommunication Union’s advisory body on submarine cable resilience.
The body will address concerns about the vulnerability of global submarine cables, which carry more than 99 per cent of international data, underpinning communication and economic activities worldwide.
Tijani, in a statement on Saturday via his X account, said the group will serve as a platform for international collaboration, bringing together governments, regulators, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to enhance the safety, redundancy, and protection of submarine cables.
The advisory body will be co-chaired by the Chair of ANACOM’s Board of Directors, Prof Sandra Maximiano, alongside the minister, with its two-year term set to begin on Nov. 1, 2024.
The minister expressed that the appointment underscores Nigeria’s active advocacy towards ensuring resilience in the global digital infrastructure, particularly with respect to subsea fibre-optic cables.
“This is an area we are particularly invested in, considering our recent challenges with cuts to our submarine cables,” he added.
According to ITU, with the world’s reliance on stable, high-speed internet continuing to grow, the advisory panel will promote dialogue and international collaboration among governments, regulators, and industry leaders.
The telecom group reiterated that Minister Tijani and Maximiano will collaborate with governments, regulators, and industry experts to provide strategic guidance aimed at improving the resilience of submarine cable systems, which are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and accidental damage.
ITU also announced that the nomination process for members of the Advisory Body is now open until 15 October 2024 via the ITU’s official nomination form.
