Bandits Use Unconnected Areas and Multiple Towers to Evade Detection – FG

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has presented the Federal Government’s advanced plan to address weaknesses in the telecommunications sector in order to fight insecurity and kidnapping nationwide.

Tijani addressed the public’s worry over ransom negotiations and suspected crimes carried out via unregistered SIMs during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday. He said that the issue is “far more technical” than is commonly believed.

The Minister disclosed that although the required National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage was a first step, criminal networks have already moved away from basic unregistered lines and developed other strategies.

He clarified that in order to avoid regular towers, thieves increasingly use technology that route calls over several towers, a strategy that works best in isolated and poorly connected areas.

“They bounce calls off multiple towers instead of using the standard towers.” They like living in remote places because of this, Tijani said.

He pointed out that President Tinubu advocated for investment in towers in such unsafe locations since the current administration recognized this shortcoming.

The Minister unveiled a multifaceted connection strategy to improve security monitoring and eliminate these network blackspots.

According to him, Nigeria is still the “only West African country” with its own communications satellites, which the government is currently bolstering.

He explained, “This is why we are upgrading our two satellites, so that our satellites will work if our towers are not working.”

He claims that the government is making significant investments in the growth of fiber optic cables.

Tijjani revealed that a joint initiative with Huawei to install 4,000 new cellular towers throughout underserved rural regions was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.

He affirmed that the project is anticipated to “significantly improve rural connectivity, stimulate commerce, and enhance security surveillance.” It is scheduled to begin next year.

Despite its importance, the Minister pointed out that the satellite deployment is still “the third leg” of the larger operation and will take longer to launch than the tower and fiber projects, which are “well in progress.”