Rising Threats to Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure
Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure is under increasing threat due to a sharp rise in damage to fibre-optic cables. Despite repeated warnings from industry operators, incidents of fibre cuts have surged, posing serious risks to the country’s digital ecosystem and disrupting essential services. This growing concern has prompted calls for stronger regulatory frameworks and better coordination among stakeholders.
A Surge in Fibre Damage
Recent data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals a worrying trend. In January 2026 alone, there were 40 reported incidents of fibre damage, a tenfold increase compared to just four in December 2025. By 17 February 2026, an additional 18 incidents had been recorded, bringing the total disruptions in the first seven weeks of the year to 58. Over 80% of these incidents occurred in Abuja, with smaller numbers reported in Lagos, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, and Abia states.
This spike highlights the persistent vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s telecom networks, even after the implementation of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) framework. Introduced in June 2024, the CNII was designed to protect critical assets such as fibre cables, data centres, and telecommunications networks. However, the recent surge in damage suggests that existing measures may not be sufficient to prevent further disruptions.
Calls for Better Coordination and Accountability
During a recent visit by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to the NCC in Lagos, operators urged the Federal Government to improve coordination on fibre mapping, enforce accountability for contractors, and harmonise fiscal policies to support sector stability and investment.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, highlighted the economic impact of daily fibre cuts. “These incidents are causing enormous economic losses, nationwide service disruptions, destruction of critical digital infrastructure, loss of assets without compensation, and interruptions to banking, education, and security,” he said. Adebayo also stressed the need for structured pre-construction fibre mapping and mandatory coordination frameworks to prevent future damage.
NCC Chairman Dr Idris Olorunnimbe acknowledged the strategic importance of telecom networks to national development. “Telecommunications infrastructure is critical to commerce, social life, education, health, and entertainment. When it is damaged, there must be consequences for those responsible,” he said. Olorunnimbe emphasized the need for contractor accountability, suggesting that enforcing penalties for damaging critical infrastructure could deter future offences.
Historical Context and Financial Impact
The issue of fibre cuts is not new. From January to August 2025, the NCC recorded 19,384 fibre cuts, with MTN Nigeria reporting 5,478 cuts in the first seven months of that year. By the end of 2025, MTN had logged a total of 9,218 fibre cuts. The financial toll has been significant, with telecom operators spending approximately N14 billion repairing roughly 59,000 fibre cuts between 2022 and 2023. Including lost revenue from service disruptions, total costs reached about N27 billion in 2023.
MTN also spent over N11 billion relocating more than 2,500 km of vulnerable fibre during 2022–2023, underscoring the substantial investment required to maintain and protect critical digital infrastructure.
Strategic Engagement and Future Outlook
The ongoing challenge was again highlighted during a high-level strategic engagement on 17 February 2026 at the NCC headquarters in Abuja. The meeting, convened by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria and the NCC, brought together top industry executives, including ATCON President Tony Emoekpere and NCC management led by Executive Vice Chairman Dr Aminu Maida. The discussion focused on the urgent need to protect telecommunications infrastructure, which stakeholders described as a backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Emoekpere praised the leadership of Dr Aminu Maida and reiterated the importance of continued collaboration between regulators and operators. “As our industry continues to grow and consolidate, continued collaboration remains critical to addressing infrastructure challenges, improving service delivery, and accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation,” he said.
Broader Implications for the Sector
The recurring fibre cuts have tangible consequences for service delivery and economic activity. Banking systems, educational platforms, security networks, and digital service providers are often disrupted, resulting in financial losses, delayed transactions, and interrupted communication. These issues also raise investor concerns, as the uncertainty of network integrity affects long-term capital allocation and the expansion of broadband services.
In a LinkedIn post, Nexintell CEO Ogaba Attah called for data-driven collaboration between regulators and operators. “Sustainable sector growth will increasingly depend not just on dialogue but also on shared infrastructure intelligence, particularly the ability to identify duplication, underutilisation, and systemic risk across networks in real time,” he said. Integrating such intelligence into sector planning would enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen the overall resilience of Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.
Industry stakeholders have cited multiple factors contributing to the continued vulnerability of fibre networks. Beyond physical damage from roadworks, overlapping taxes, unclear regulatory boundaries, and fragmented coordination among federal and state agencies complicate infrastructure protection. Operators argue that harmonising fiscal and regulatory frameworks, combined with rigorous CNII enforcement, is essential to safeguarding investments and ensuring reliable service for consumers.
Commitment to Collaboration
The NCC and operators reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration, emphasizing that infrastructure protection is not only a regulatory responsibility but also a strategic national imperative. “The NCC is here to support you. We are partners in building the sector, and we will continue to work with you to strengthen investment, protect infrastructure, and expand services,” Olorunnimbe said.
As Nigeria deepens its digital transformation agenda, the telecommunications industry continues to stress that warnings must translate into action. Without robust enforcement, coordination, and accountability, fibre cuts are likely to remain a persistent threat, undermining digital growth, disrupting essential services, and raising costs for both operators and consumers.
