The telecom sector continues to underpin Africa’s digital evolution with Nigeria emerging as a high-stakes hub by driving innovation while grappling with growing infrastructure security challenges. With this infrastructure supporting over 220 million people and billions in economic output, its security has evolved from a mere technical concern into a strategic national priority. From cross-border cyber threats to physical sabotage of fiber lines, the risks facing sector operations today are multilayered and fast-changing. Yet, as these challenges scale, so too must our response: coordinated, intelligence-driven, and deeply localized. At Stargrade Solutions, we understand that securing these critical infrastructures isn’t just about deploying tools; it’s about foresight, partnerships, and context-driven execution. 

Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure faces a growing mix of threats. Sabotage of base stations in restive regions, cable theft, and systemic vandalism of towers continue to disrupt connectivity and service availability. These are not isolated incidents. In March 2024, Nigeria experienced widespread internet disruption following the damage of undersea cables leading to a loss of over $500 million – a stark reminder of how fragile the regional backbone is. Additionally, cyberattacks are on the rise such as in April 2025, when the MTN Group disclosed a significant data breach affecting customer data across several African markets. Such attacks often exploit gaps in physical access control, poor vendor management, and the absence of sector-specific cybersecurity hygiene. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria, now actively deploying 5G networks, faces new risks from interconnected systems, IoT device proliferation, and AI-powered data services which further complicates the threat matrix. Another emerging concern is the geopolitical dimension with firms like Huawei building a significant portion of Africa’s telecom infrastructure, concerns about potential espionage and dependency risks continue to stir debate across policymaking and enterprise circles. As telecom systems become deeply embedded in national development goals, they must be classified and treated as critical infrastructure with appropriate safeguards, accountability, and protection frameworks. 

Securing telecom infrastructure in Nigeria requires a layered approach, rooted in global standards but adapted to the realities of the African context. Global industry frameworks such as the GSMA Mobile Security Guidelines, NIST SP 800-53, and ISO/IEC 27001 offer foundational guidance but effective protection goes beyond compliance. Consequently, physical security remains the first line of defense; this includes robust access control systems, surveillance, perimeter management, and on-ground intelligence, which are all crucial to prevent sabotage and asset theft. Similarly, the growing insider threat calls for clear protocols around privileged access, anomaly detection, and regular behavioral assessments. These are not just IT problems, they are operational risks with severe consequences. Hence, this is where intelligence-led risk advisory becomes essential. At Stargrade, we embed geopolitical forecasting, threat modeling, and context analysis into our operations allowing our clients to act before risks escalate.