FG Designates NIBSS, BVN, NIN Databases as Critical National Information Infrastructure
The Federal Government has officially designated the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the Bank Verification Number (BVN), and the National Identification Number (NIN) databases as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
This designation is part of the newly released ‘Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024’, which was recently signed by President Bola Tinubu.The inclusion of these databases under the CNII status signifies that any attack or tampering with these infrastructures is now considered a criminal offense, subject to prosecution.
The gazetted order also extends this protection to other key electronic payment gateways and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) database, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding these systems from any form of interference.
The objective of this Presidential Order, as outlined in the gazette, is to ensure the protection and uninterrupted functioning of vital ICT systems, networks, and infrastructure.
These are deemed essential for driving national development, ensuring economic stability, maintaining national security and defense, and supporting public health, safety, and government operations.
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Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, hailed the gazette’s release as a significant milestone. He noted that the designation of all telecommunications infrastructure in the country as CNII is particularly important.
This measure is expected to enhance the quality of telecom services by curbing disruptions caused by intentional damage to critical infrastructure.
“This gazette now makes it an offense to wilfully damage assets such as telco towers/sites, switch stations, data centres, satellite infrastructure, submarine & fibre optic cables, transmission equipment, e-government platforms, databases among many others,” Tijani stated.
For years, stakeholders in Nigeria’s ICT sector have urged the government to classify telecom infrastructure as a critical national asset to combat persistent attacks.
In March, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, reiterated this call after Nigeria experienced an internet outage due to damage to fibre optic cables.Telecom operators have faced significant challenges in this regard.
In 2023, MTN Nigeria reported over 6,000 cuts to its fibre cables and relocated 2,500 kilometers of vulnerable cables at a cost exceeding N11 billion.
Similarly, Carl Cruz, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, revealed that the company has been recording an average of 1,000 fibre cuts each month.The new CNII designation aims to address these challenges by ensuring stronger legal protection for critical ICT infrastructure across Nigeria.
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