Surge in Attacks on Telecom Infrastructure Raises Doubts Over Nigeria’s Protection Policy
Telecom infrastructure in Nigeria is under increasing threat, with rising incidents of fibre cuts, equipment thefts, and vandalism casting doubt on the effectiveness of the country’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) policy. Despite the official release of the CNII policy seven months ago by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, telecom operators argue that attacks continue unabated. They attribute this ongoing issue to the government’s lack of a clear enforcement framework and failure to assign a dedicated security agency to safeguard telecom infrastructure.
Operators have expressed frustration over the government’s failure to enforce the CNII policy, leading to widespread damage and disruption. The lack of a specific security agency responsible for protecting telecom assets has further compounded the situation, allowing the theft and vandalism of telecom infrastructure to continue unchecked. This leaves telecom operators grappling with mounting losses and heightened uncertainty regarding the future of their operations in Nigeria.
The financial impact of these attacks is significant. In 2024 alone, telecom operators in Lagos State lost an estimated N5 billion due to infrastructure damage, with over 2,500 fibre cuts recorded. Key commercial areas like Ikeja, Lekki, and Victoria Island have been particularly hard-hit by these incidents. Often, road construction and private development projects inadvertently damage underground fibre cables, exacerbating the problem and contributing to frequent service disruptions across the region.
Experts point to poor planning and lack of coordination between government agencies, telecom operators, and construction firms as the root causes of the recurring damage. Without a centralized framework or effective regulatory oversight, these stakeholders continue to operate independently, leading to repeated infrastructure damage without accountability. The absence of a unified approach to addressing these challenges is leaving telecom infrastructure vulnerable to further attacks, undermining the policy’s intended protection.
Source: naira metrics