Abuja: The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is set to host the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Nigeria. The Minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced on Tuesday that the two-day summit was scheduled to commence on February 26 in Abuja, Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tijani recalled Nigeria’s experience during the West African submarine cable cuts in March 2023. He noted that while the cables were owned by private companies, the responsibility for repairing them and ensuring their resilience extended beyond the private sector alone. Territorial issues were also mentioned as contributing factors in some cases.
Tijani expressed appreciation for ITU’s role in placing the issue on the global agenda, which was crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy and improving connectivity. The Deputy Secretary-General of ITU, Tomas Lamanauskas, stated that there were between 150 and 200 submarine cable cuts globally each year. He commended the Nigerian government for initiating discussions on protecting telecom marine cables.
Lamanauskas highlighted the need for stronger coordination between submarine cable industries and other sectors, such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). He pointed out that many countries lacked a single authority responsible for submarine cable repairs, permits, and coordination with other authorities.
Lamanauskas expressed optimism that these issues were being addressed in several governments, noting that some had started discussions on organising and assigning responsibilities. He added that one of the priority initiatives being discussed was creating a list of focal points across governments worldwide, which would serve as the first point of contact in case of issues.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit seeks to foster global collaboration and find innovative solutions. The summit also aims to engage leaders from government, industry, and international organisations to strengthen this vital global digital infrastructure.