The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has unveiled plans to lead a global collaboration aimed at bolstering the protection of undersea cables, vital components of the digital infrastructure.

Making the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Minister Tijani underscored the critical role these cables play in facilitating the digital economy. He emphasized the necessity to reassess international laws and forge partnerships with regional and global entities to expedite efforts in safeguarding this essential infrastructure.

Addressing those affected by recent disruptions, Minister Tijani assured the public that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is actively engaging with all relevant stakeholders to promptly resolve the issues at hand.

The initiative, according to the minister, represents a significant stride toward ensuring the resilience and reliability of undersea cables, which serve as crucial lifelines in today’s interconnected world.

Last Thursday, disruptions to the undersea cable supplying broadband Internet connectivity to Nigeria and countries in the West African sub-region compelled numerous banks, financial institutions, telecom companies, and related firms to scale down their operations.

Minister Tijani acknowledged that submarine cable cuts, though disruptive, are proving to be catalysts for resilience and growth in Nigeria’s digital economy. He lauded the collaborative efforts of telecom giants such as Globacom, West Indian Ocean Cable Company, MTN, and MainOne, who have exhibited commendable selflessness in joining forces to mitigate the impact of these cuts.