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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has teamed up with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to prevent damage to the country’s vital technology infrastructure.
Both organisations state they will implement measures to prevent additional damages resulting from excavation. These damages result from roadworks and civil engineering projects conducted without prior coordination with network operators and regulators.
The regulator is intensifying its efforts to address damage to fibre-optic infrastructure. They are specifically targeting construction firms, contractors, and other parties whose activities frequently sever cables.
The NCC stated that accidental fibre cuts are primarily caused by excavation, drilling, trenching, and road construction. Out of over 50,000 incidents documented in 2024, roughly 30,000 were associated with road projects carried out by federal and state agencies.
The collaboration comes after the establishment in February 2025 of an inter-ministerial committee dedicated to fibre optics protection. The committee was formed by the Federal Ministry of Works alongside the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. Composed of representatives from both ministries and the NCC, the committee functions as a coordinating entity for cable protection before, during, and after road projects. It convenes frequently to identify issues, agree on solutions tailored to the sector. Also, they establish intervention protocols and procedures, and exchange monthly performance updates.
NCC Calls on Citizens to Report Cases of Fibre Optic Damage
On May 26, 2025, the NCC introduced a specific platform for the public to report these incidents. In April 2025, telecom companies established a collaborative group focused on protecting infrastructure to coordinate both prevention and response initiatives.
Furthermore, these efforts stem from an executive order issued in August 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu designated to protect telecommunications infrastructure. The order categorizes infrastructure such as fibre optics, as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). Damaging such infrastructure is now considered a criminal act under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) law. Act 2015.
“The law specifies punishment for any person who deliberately commits an offence punishable under this Act. Anyone found guilty of deliberately damaging a critical national information infrastructure shall face imprisonment of up to 10 years without the possibility of a fine upon conviction.”
Despite these actions, fibre-optic vandalism persists. Telecom provider MTN reported experiencing 9,218 fibre cuts in 2025, averaging approximately 25 per day. This contrasts with 9,000 incidents in 2024 and 6,000 in 2023.
Also, vandalism of fibre optic cables may hinder Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts. This is crucial as the country is aiming to leverage ICT for socio-economic progress. The NCC states that fibre is the foundation of contemporary telecommunications. They facilitate internet, voice calls, and other digital services.
“Contrary to conventional copper wires, fibre offers exceptionally high bandwidth, quicker data transfer, and reduced latency (less waiting time in file transfers).”
“This makes it extremely beneficial for conducting business, education, banking, healthcare activities, and various human endeavours,” stated the regulator. It stated that even minor disruptions can result in significant service interruptions. Depending on the area, a single cut can affect a few users, an entire neighbourhood, or a vast region.
Safeguarding Fibre Technology Infrastructure
Safeguarding fibre technology infrastructure is particularly crucial, as the government has initiated a nearly $2 billion initiative to install 90,000 km of fibre nationwide. Communications Minister Bosun Tijani stated that the project is already 60 per cent finished.
Together, these moves aim to enhance internet speed and reliability, increase penetration. Also, it is crucial to ensure connectivity for millions of households, companies, educational institutions, and hospitals, especially in far flung regions.
Also, the initiative is projected to create as many as 20,000 direct jobs and over 150,000 indirect jobs. Furthermore, it is expected to foster innovation and development in Nigeria’s digital economy. Officials project that it could raise GDP to approximately $502 billion over the next four years, up from the current $472.62 billion.
Earlier in December 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) cautioned telecommunications operators to promptly improve their service quality or risk incurring regulatory penalties. This warning was issued due to an increasing number of complaints from subscribers regarding network issues.
