Nigeria’s Federal Government is strengthening its fight against fraudulent phone calls and criminal communications by reinforcing the country’s digital backbone through a combination of satellite upgrades, fibre-optic expansion, and targeted telecom surveillance.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ’Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television, amid growing public concern over the continued use of mobile networks by kidnappers, bandits, and fraud syndicates.
According to the Minister, tracking illicit communications is “far more technical” than many Nigerians realise, explaining why conventional enforcement measures have struggled to curb telecoms-enabled crime.
Since 2020, the sector has been under intense scrutiny following the Federal Government’s mandatory National Identification Number (NIN)–SIM linkage policy, introduced to eliminate anonymous phone usage. While the exercise led to the deactivation of millions of unregistered SIM cards, authorities say criminal networks have since adapted.
Tijani acknowledged widespread frustration over reports that ransom negotiations and coordinated attacks still take place using active SIM cards, some operating beyond standard monitoring frameworks.
“There was an exercise conducted by the telcos to clean out all SIMs,” he said. “But we realised criminals were using a special type of technology to make calls.”
The Minister revealed that investigations by security agencies and regulators uncovered sophisticated techniques used by criminal groups. Rather than relying on conventional telecom towers, these groups reportedly route calls across multiple towers, effectively masking their origin and frustrating tracking efforts.
“They were not using the normal towers; they bounce calls off multiple towers,” Tijani explained. “That’s why they enjoy living in areas that are unconnected.”
These tactics are particularly effective in remote and underserved regions where weak infrastructure creates blind spots in national communications surveillance.
To close these gaps, the Federal Government is pursuing a layered connectivity strategy that combines stronger terrestrial infrastructure with space-based communications.
Key to the plan is the expansion of fibre-optic networks and the upgrade of Nigeria’s communications satellites. Tijani noted that Nigeria remains the only West African country operating its own satellites—a strategic advantage the government now intends to fully leverage.
“This is why we are upgrading our two satellites,” he said. “So that if our towers are not working, our satellites will work.”
He described satellite deployment as the “third leg” of the country’s connectivity framework, complementing fibre expansion and improved tower coverage. While satellite upgrades will take longer to complete, he said the other components are already at advanced stages.
Analysts view the initiative as a shift from reactive telecom regulation to infrastructure-driven security, reflecting the growing link between national safety and digital resilience.
As Nigeria deepens investment in communications infrastructure, the government is betting that stronger networks—on the ground and in space—will deny criminals the anonymity they exploit and help restore public confidence in the telecoms ecosystem.
