Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has emphasized the importance of strengthening global submarine cable resilience. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Tijani described submarine cables as the backbone of the digital economy, highlighting their critical role in supporting digital technologies and economic growth.
As Nigeria strives to achieve a $1 trillion economy, securing its submarine cable network is crucial for maintaining a competitive and value-driven digital space. The government has committed to enhancing digital connectivity and protecting submarine cable infrastructure against disruptions.
To achieve this goal, Nigeria is investing $2 billion in 90,000 kilometers of submarine cable to strengthen internet connectivity. “About 90% of the traffic that we get on the internet is based on the quality of the subsea cables,” Tijani explained.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has confirmed that 50 countries will gather in Abuja for Nigeria’s maiden International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit. The summit, scheduled for February 26 and 27, will bring together over 250 stakeholders to discuss solutions to increasing threats facing undersea cable infrastructure.
According to ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas, submarine cables remain the foundation of global digital connectivity, carrying most of the world’s data traffic and enabling seamless communication between continents. The summit will focus on crisis management, recovery efforts, technology innovations, and maintenance strategies to improve the stability of submarine cable systems.
By hosting the summit, Nigeria is positioning itself as a global leader in submarine cable resilience. As Lamanauskas noted, “Nigeria has demonstrated a strong commitment to digital resilience by recognizing submarine cables as critical national infrastructure.”
