Telecom stakeholders propose index to track sustainability

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s telecommunications and technology sectors have proposed a National Telecom Sustainability Index to measure the industry’s environmental, social and governance performance and provide a common basis for assessing the sustainability of telecom operators.

The proposed index was unveiled at the Telecoms and Technology Sustainability Working Group Stakeholder Strategy Breakfast in Abuja on Thursday, where industry stakeholders reviewed a draft sustainability framework for the sector, a report of the meeting obtained by The PUNCH on Friday has shown.

The engagement, which had the theme, “Shaping the Future of Sustainable Telecommunications and Technology in Nigeria: A Shared Vision for 2027–2032,” brought together representatives of the Nigerian Communications Commission, telecoms and technology companies, sustainability professionals and other industry players.

Presenting the proposed index, a TTSWG board member, Chris Uwaje, said the framework was designed to bridge Nigeria’s peculiar telecommunications environment with internationally recognised sustainability reporting practices.

He said the index would be built around five pillars: Environment and Energy; Digital Inclusion and Affordability; Digital Integrity, Privacy and Consumer Trust; Infrastructure Resilience and Governance; and Supply Chain and Local Value Creation.

Under the Environment and Energy pillar, the proposed metrics would assess issues including energy mix, dependence on diesel, emissions and electronic waste management.

The Digital Inclusion pillar would focus on coverage, penetration, affordability and equitable access, while Digital Integrity would cover data protection, fraud, consumer complaints and service quality.

Infrastructure Resilience would measure issues including vandalism, theft, fibre cuts, network restoration, right-of-way, compliance and IPv6 readiness.

The fifth pillar would focus on Nigeria-specific issues, including local content, local currency financing, decent work and job creation.

Uwaje said the proposed metrics could also help strengthen investor confidence because sustainability-linked financing increasingly requires measurable environmental, social and governance performance.

“An investor relies on a market that builds confidence and has the metrics to measure,” he said.

The proposal comes as Nigeria’s telecommunications sector continues to expand its digital infrastructure and connectivity. The NCC’s latest industry data showed continued growth in broadband and mobile internet subscriptions, increasing the importance of reliable infrastructure, energy efficiency and responsible management of telecommunications equipment.

The proposed framework also identifies infrastructure resilience as a key sustainability issue, particularly amid challenges associated with fibre cuts, vandalism, theft and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.

Chairman of the TTSWG Board, Abdu-Waya Mohammed, said the proposed strategy was developed to address challenges confronting the sector, including rising energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions, electronic waste, inadequate digital inclusion and the need for stronger governance structures.

Mohammed said the proposed implementation strategy would focus on renewable energy, digital inclusion, social progress, governance, innovation and the development of industry-specific sustainability metrics.

He stressed that the framework remained a draft and that stakeholders were expected to contribute to its refinement.

“This is a stakeholder engagement. Whatever we are presenting today is a draft from the Secretariat, and we expect feedback from participants to further sharpen the way forward for the implementation of the strategy that we are proposing,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, Bankole Oloruntoba, said the TTSWG was established as a multi-stakeholder platform to promote sustainable practices across the telecommunications and technology ecosystem.

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Oloruntoba said sustainability should be regarded as an ecosystem-wide responsibility rather than an obligation for individual companies.

He identified environmental, social and governance integration, accountability, innovation, energy efficiency, digital inclusion, e-waste management, gender inclusion and policy advocacy as key areas of focus.

He also linked improved sustainability reporting to access to international capital.

“Some of the global financing structures have requirements that many organisations may not yet meet here in Nigeria,” he said.

The proposed index is expected to use weighted scores from the five pillars to produce a composite assessment of sustainability performance, with performance bands ranging from “leading” to “lagging.”

However, Uwaje clarified that the framework had not been adopted by the NCC and was still undergoing stakeholder review.

The Commission said the proposal would require formal submission and detailed review before it could take a position.

Representing the NCC, the Director of the Digital Economy Department, Helen Obi, said TTSWG and representatives of IHS had previously engaged the Commission on possible areas of collaboration.

She said the Commission had expected a formal document outlining the proposed collaboration but had yet to receive it.

“We would still request or require that the documentation be sent to us formally, so that we could review in detail and then give feedback as a Commission,” Obi said.

Obi said several of the issues contained in the proposed index were already aligned with ongoing NCC initiatives, particularly connectivity, digital inclusion, local device manufacturing, digital skills and support for underserved communities.

She said the Commission was also working with sub-national governments to promote stronger and more resilient connectivity, while pursuing policies aimed at deepening Nigeria’s digital economy.

The proposed sustainability strategy envisages a three-year implementation process.

In the first year, the pilot phase would involve testing core indicators with major mobile network operators and leading tower companies, refining definitions and reporting templates, developing a reporting module and establishing an IPv6 baseline.

The second year would introduce a core reporting system for qualifying licensees, with expanded reporting by major operators and the development of an internal sector baseline.

By the third year, the proposal envisages the publication of an annual Nigerian telecom sector sustainability report, expansion of the index and independent assurance of reported data.

The stakeholders said the framework would require collaboration among regulators, telecom operators, technology companies, financial institutions, government agencies, academia, development partners and civil society organisations.

The proposed index will now undergo further stakeholder consultation and formal engagement with the NCC before its indicators, reporting requirements and implementation structure can be finalised.