Willful vandalism, road construction activities, and accidental fibre optic cable damages caused by service providers are posing serious threats to Nigeria’s transition into a digital economy and President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy, findings have shown.
Data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the telecom industry regulator, revealed that at least 155,397 fibre-cut incidents were recorded between April and May 2026, representing the highest level of network disruption since the liberalisation of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, according to The Nation.
The sharp rise indicates a 2,428 per cent increase compared with figures recorded in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, forcing telecom operators into a continuous struggle to sustain minimum network availability, according to the NCC report titled: “Quality of Experience (QoE).”
The development persists despite the Federal Government’s classification of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), a designation that attracts up to a 10-year jail term for vandals. However, criminal activities, construction-related damages, and environmental factors continue to threaten Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and disrupt economic activities.
The NCC report highlighted growing pressure on the country’s digital backbone, showing a steady rise in fibre damage incidents within the two-month period. The number of reported cases increased from 74,276 in April 2026 to 79,121 in May, reflecting a 6.5 per cent month-on-month growth.
According to the data, fibre cuts were caused by a combination of human actions and environmental factors. Deliberate vandalism accounted for more than 54,000 incidents, making it the leading cause of network disruptions despite the penalties introduced under the CNII framework.
Infrastructure deterioration resulting from ageing equipment and general wear accounted for about 40,000 cases, while faults involving mid-line hardware, converters, and related technical components contributed approximately 30,100 incidents.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said the availability of buyers for stolen telecom equipment has made the fight against infrastructure theft more challenging.
“the existence of buyers for stolen telecom equipment makes the battle sort of complicated.”
During the period under review, telecom operators recorded 675 cases of equipment theft at base stations, involving the removal of backup batteries, cables, generators, and other critical assets. Operators also reported nearly 300 cases of diesel diversion, affecting the operation of off-grid towers by depriving them of fuel supplies.
In addition, telecom engineers were denied access to base stations for repairs and refuelling operations on 4,319 occasions. Rising insecurity across the country accounted for 74 per cent of these access restrictions, making it unsafe for technical teams to reach affected sites.
Other barriers included disputes with landlords, resistance from community groups such as “area boys,” and regulatory enforcement actions by some local government authorities.
For millions of telecom users, the impact of these disruptions is reflected in dropped calls, unsuccessful electronic transactions, and slower internet connectivity.
In major commercial centres including Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, a single fibre cut can immediately disrupt digital payments, affect businesses that depend on point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and result in millions of naira in productivity losses.
