REPORT OF A THREE-DAY COMMUNITY ENTRY ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCURE COMMUNITY PROTECTION INITIATIVE (TICPI), July 7-9, 2026

INTRODUCTION and rationale for the entry:

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) embarked on a “piloted” programme to create awareness on the need to protect critical National information Infrastructure (CNII) by initiating community entry into seven (pilot) communities. The communities are Rano and Ajingi in Kano state, Kudai, Madobi and Kiyawa from Jigawa, and Itas as well as Jama’are in Bauchi state.

Prior to the entry, there was a convening meeting with selected partners-Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) from each of the community held in Dutse, Jigawa state on June 16, 2026 supported by CITAD, meant to encourage community identification of blockages against the safety and security of telecommunication infrastructure and suggest further ways to support collaborative effort to safeguard them.

After the maiden meeting, participants further trickled down the meeting to their respective community stakeholders (village/district/ward heads, youth groups, security agencies, service providers (SPs), religious leaders and other interest groups about the initiative.

In the Telecommunications sector, the executive order covers information and communications technology (ICTs) system, networks, and infrastructure operating in Nigeria. They include telecommunications networks, base stations, fibre-optic cables, data centres, towers, internet exchange points, broadcasting systems, and other ICT facilities whose disruptions could seriously hamper our everyday life. These are essential to the country’s security, economy, and public well-being.

Based on this, CITAD planned and facilitated a community-entry in the piloted areas with the intent to create a “platform” where both communities, service providers and the security agencies will engage themselves to jointly protect and promote the national critical infrastructure from vandalization for the betterment of the country.

Across all locations, community leaders received the CITAD team during the visit. In Rano community, the Emir of Rano, His Royal Highness (HRH) Alhaji Muhammadu Isah Umaru (Autan Bawo) and other leaders led by Engr. Hassan Abdullahi Hassan received the delegation. While, in Ajingi community, the district head Alh Muhammadu Wada Aliyu, represented by the village head of Chula (Abdulkadir Abdullahi Dan’zanko) engaged the team. The Madobi village head, represented by (OC Aminu Ahmad Abdullahi) received the team at Madobi central Mosque.

Similarly, Alhaji Ahmad Maidala in Jama’are represented the emirate council at the meeting while, in Kudai community of Dutse, Jigawa state, community elder Honorable Sale Hassan (Immediate Vice chairman Municipal Area Council Dutse) led other stakeholders of the community at the meeting. The Itas community was also led by the Sarkin Doka, supported by other security and youth leaders during the meeting while the Kiyawa community received the team by representative Alh. Mustapha Ahmad Kiyawa for the district head of Kiyawa and Dan’Masanin Dutse, Alh Adamu Aliyu Kiyawa.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMUNITY ENTRY:

1. Strengthen local on ground understand of the issues (TICPI)
2. Assess the level of potential commitment by members of the partners
3. Provide an impression on the level of acceptance and routineness of the partner in their locality
4. Begin to create traction on the issues
5. Create media visibility for the initiative

Other suggestions:

1. Farmers and herders also need to be sensitized as farmers lands are being encroached while laying the fibre cables, herders should also be sensitized to support in reporting suspicion while wandering in the bush
2. Some (cell tower) are being run on and off, with no steady service. Example in Madobi community (9mobile). Such stations are exposed to vandalism because of the unsteady service
3. There is need to localize the security companies (within a state) that employ the guards instead of hiring from other states. This will promote proper cheeks and rapid response to issues.
4. Communities of Jama’are emphasized on service providers including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and others, to implement meaningful community development projects to encourage surveillance and ownership of the facilities having spent over 2 decades of operation in the area. Similar issue was raised in Madobi with MTN’s existence of marketable business in the area for 2 decades.
5. Service providers must engage the services of trained security officers or train the local watchmen to strengthen their security skills
6. Many areas are coming up with population, however no network coverage. Example, SAJI community in Rano local Government. The Emir called for intervention by service providers to take the economic advantage in the area and get them connected

CONCLUSION:

The seven communities agreed to set up a committee under the CITAD’s initiative that will include all key stakeholder sin the communities with the aim of overseeing the safety and security of the national infrastructure. All locations will after the community entry conduct meeting and carefully form the committee. An inaugural meeting will thereafter take place. Clear roles and responsibilities of the committee will be drafted to guide the committee.

Communities urged CITAD to link them up with service providers and provide necessary guidance on how to access opportunities available at foundations such as the MTN foundation to enhance communities’ welfare and development. Across the seven communities, about 100 people witnessed the programme. It was also agreed that, CITAD will attend inaugural meetings of the partners as soon as they provide updates on their plans.

ANNEX:

1. CITAD Secures Rano Emir’s Support for Telecom Infrastructure Protection https://primetimenews.ng/citad-secures-rano-emirs-support-for-telecom-infrastructure-protection/
2. Photos of community entry: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aW61mOBJG2H5eOl7ycDIptWHEKQBCLps/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111590164568100234517&rtpof=true&sd=true
3. List of CBOs/Partners on TICPI: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tk8wF01_m_sW9qDoaD1KRAvHUSmKyKp7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111590164568100234517&rtpof=true&sd=true
4. Community Coordinates: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qUbhY16PsjDxt-pF6hgzc4PWM5U5o0qb/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111590164568100234517&rtpof=true&sd=true