The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised concerns over the growing damage to Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, revealing that more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts were recorded across the country in the first six months of 2026. According to the commission, most of the incidents were linked to road excavation, construction projects and other civil works.
NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Aminu Maida, disclosed the figures at a stakeholders’ workshop focused on protecting telecommunications infrastructure during road construction and other civil works. He explained that many fibre cuts happened because contractors and telecommunications operators failed to properly coordinate and exchange information before excavation began. What may look like a simple construction accident, he noted, can quickly turn into a major disruption for thousands or even millions of Nigerians.
The impact of these NCC fibre cuts in Nigeria goes far beyond telecom companies having to repair damaged cables. Fibre networks support critical services including banking, digital payments, healthcare, education, government operations, commerce and security. A single damaged cable can mean failed transactions, poor connectivity, interrupted business operations and difficulties accessing essential services, making fibre infrastructure an increasingly important part of the country’s economy.
Maida stressed that most of these incidents could have been avoided if proper checks and communication were carried out before construction work started. He called for a shift from simply repairing damaged infrastructure to preventing the damage in the first place. Telecom operators, he said, need to provide accurate information about fibre routes, while contractors must verify underground infrastructure before digging and make appropriate protection plans.
The NCC chief emphasised that road development and telecommunications infrastructure should not be treated as competing interests, as both are essential to national development. He called for a dependable system of early coordination involving operators, contractors and government agencies. Meanwhile, Effiom Ewa, Director of Critical National Security and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, said fibre-optic infrastructure has been designated as critical national information infrastructure, highlighting the need for stronger protection as Nigeria becomes increasingly dependent on digital connectivity.
source: newtelegraph
