Nigeria’s telecoms industry has raised alarm that rising cases of vandalism, theft, and restricted access to critical infrastructure are undermining service delivery and endangering the nation’s digital security.
“So far this year, for example, as an average of generally speaking, we have had close to 1,000 fiber cuts on a weekly basis. About 545 access denial issues were able to get access to their sites weekly. About 99 theft incidents weekly. And each of these are service-impacted,” Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), represented by Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity of NCC, says.
Telecoms operators and regulators raised the concern during the first edition of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and Sustainability Conference 2025, held in Lagos on Thursday. They say the industry is facing relentless attacks on fibre cables, power systems, and tower equipment, with costly and far-reaching consequences.
“So far this year, for example, as an average of generally speaking, we have had close to 1,000 fiber cuts on a weekly basis. About 545 access denial issues were able to get access to their sites weekly. About 99 theft incidents weekly. And each of these are service-impacted,” Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), represented by Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity of NCC, says.
The conference, themed “Critical National ICT Infrastructure and Industry Sustainability – Way Forward,” is organised by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in collaboration with the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Telecoms infrastructure destruction: A national threat
Chike Onwuegbuchi, NITRA Chairman, in his opening address, says telecoms infrastructure must be recognised as vital to Nigeria’s development. He urges media and industry stakeholders to collaborate on public awareness and protection efforts.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON Chairman, proposes a series of actions to address the rising threats to telecom infrastructure. He says the industry must take full ownership of infrastructure protection and embed it as a fundamental part of its operations, not something to delegate.
“You cannot outsource protection to a third party,” Adebayo says.
He faults both operators and local communities for enabling widespread sabotage, while pointing to a growing black market for stolen equipment such as generators, diesel, batteries, and solar panels. He warns that this illegal supply chain continues to undermine service reliability and inflate operational risks.
Adebayo calls for market accountability, technical competence in infrastructure handling, greater public awareness about the impact of sabotage, and the need for clear, transparent tariff structures. He says communities must recognise the infrastructure in their environment as shared national assets and take responsibility for its protection. He also urges industry stakeholders to dismantle grey market channels that allow stolen telecom components to circulate.
He describes how diesel theft and infrastructure dismantling are often disguised as routine transportation. He warns that such practices are fueling systemic losses and increasing security challenges across the industry.
To counter these threats, Adebayo says that telecoms operators must strengthen collaboration with security agencies and law enforcement to monitor critical infrastructure, prevent sabotage, and prosecute offenders.
NCC pushes for multi-layered CNII protection
Maida says the NCC is taking a layered approach to safeguarding Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), focusing on regulation, awareness, and collaboration.
“The industry contributes over 14.4% (Q4, 2024) to Nigeria’s GDP and underpins nearly all critical sectors — from banking, energy, and health to security, education, and governance. More than just a sector, telecoms is the enabling platform for innovation, productivity, and growth,” he adds.
Adebayo calls for market accountability, technical competence in infrastructure handling, greater public awareness about the impact of sabotage, and the need for clear, transparent tariff structures. He says communities must recognise the infrastructure in their environment as shared national assets and take responsibility for its protection. He also urges industry stakeholders to dismantle grey market channels that allow stolen telecom components to circulate.
The NCC chief adds that the designation of telecoms infrastructure as CNII by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Cybersecurity Act increases responsibility for its protection across all stakeholders.
He outlines the NCC’s initiatives, including the Right of Way (RoW) harmonisation drive, creation of a CNII Industry Working Group, and regular stakeholder engagement.
He says the Commission is also translating policy into enforcement. “Operators are now required to meet established benchmarks for the laying of fibre-optic cables, erection of towers and masts, and routine maintenance of their sites.”
Public awareness campaigns have been launched through radio and social media to build understanding of the CNII designation and the impact of sabotage.
“Public buy-in is essential, and we are committed to ensuring that telecom infrastructure is viewed as a national asset deserving of collective protection,” Maida says.
He also highlights active collaboration with key actors, including lawmakers, law enforcement, the judiciary, and state governments. “The Commission is driving at instituting Memorandum of Understanding with key stakeholders in the telecom infrastructure ecosystem like the federal ministry of works.”
“We are advancing stakeholder collaboration as a cornerstone of CNII protection. The Presidential Order is not self-executing. Its success depends on the awareness, participation, and cooperation of all key actors.”
Disruption, Delays, and Systemic Threats
The Commission lists major ongoing challenges, including:
- Fibre cuts, access denial, and theft — “So far this year for example, there is an average weekly incidence of about 1100 fibre cut, 545 access denial and 99 theft incidences.”
- High cost of operations due to diesel dependence.
- Bottlenecks in Right-of-Way approvals and new site permits.
- Growing cybersecurity threats.
- Insecurity in some regions that hinders infrastructure deployment and maintenance.
“These are significant causative factors for service downtime,” Ogoh says. “Addressing these issues requires not just regulatory tools, but inter-agency cooperation, legislative backing, private sector responsibility, and public awareness.”
Next Steps toward building a resilient telecom sector
The NCC outlines a five-point path forward:
1. Public awareness and community ownership – “We must scale campaigns that sensitise citizens to treat communications infrastructure as national assets.”
2. Improved inter-stakeholder collaboration – “Improved inter-stakeholder collaboration between players in the communications industry and other critical stakeholders.”
3. Information sharing – “Improved coordination via information sharing with critical stakeholders e.g. between construction companies and infrastructure owners during road construction and maintenance activities.”
4. Streamlined permits – “Streamlined and uniform acquisition and permit processes for new communications infrastructure build.”
5. Stronger enforcement – “There is a pressing need to ensure adequate punitive measures are taken against culprits involved in the damage of critical infrastructure considering the impact the damage have on the socio-economic, safety and security of Nigerians.”
Maida also calls for urgent collective action. He says “the communications sector is not only the nervous system of our digital economy — it is now a national resilience system. As such, its sustainability and security cannot be taken for granted. The cost of inaction is steep: from service disruptions and investor flight to national security vulnerabilities and economic instability.”
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