…Banking, healthcare, education, and emergency systems affected as infrastructure vandalism surges
By Juliet Umeh
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has raised alarm over the alarming scale of damage to telecommunications infrastructure, warning that Nigeria is now witnessing over 1,100 fibre optic cuts every week.
This disturbing trend, alongside 545 weekly site access denials and nearly 100 incidents of theft, is now threatening the stability of Nigeria’s digital economy and disrupting essential public services.
The data was presented at the Industry Sustainability and Critical National Information Infrastructure, CNII, Conference, held in Lagos on Thursday under the theme: “Telecom Industry Sustainability and CNII Factor – Way Forward.”
Delivering his keynote address, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Mr. Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, described the situation as dire.
“Telecommunications infrastructure is the nervous system of our national digital economy. Yet, every week, we record over 1,100 fibre cuts, 545 cases of access denial, and nearly 100 thefts,” he said.
“These are not just numbers. They represent widespread service disruptions impacting banking transactions, healthcare delivery, online education, and even security operations.”
The NCC emphasized that telecom assets such as fibre cables, towers, data centres, and base stations, all designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure, CNII, are facing constant sabotage from vandals, thieves, and in some cases, hostile local communities.
The Commission further highlighted additional setbacks in the sector, including prolonged delays in securing Right-of-Way permits, erratic power supply, cybersecurity threats, and insecurity in conflict zones, all of which hamper the sustainability of telecom services.
Issuing a strong national call-to-action, the NCC urged all Nigerians to recognize the importance of protecting telecom infrastructure: “Let this not be just another conference. Let it be a national awakening to secure our digital future,” the Commission stated.
Lending his voice to the call, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, warned that continued losses of telecom infrastructure have dire economic and social implications.
“Every base station lost is a step backward for Nigeria’s digital economy. The impact is immediate mobile networks go down, banking transactions fail, and emergency communication collapses. This situation is unsustainable.”
Adebayo appealed to the media, community leaders, traditional institutions, and citizens to collaborate with operators and government in protecting the infrastructure that powers everyday connectivity.
At the end of the conference, industry stakeholders jointly resolved that telecom infrastructure protection must be elevated to a national security concern, calling for tougher laws, community sensitization, and prompt prosecution of offenders.
