Telcos, NCC Raise Alarm Over 1,000 Weekly Fibre Cuts

Nigeria currently experiences an average of 1,100 fibre optic cut and outages every week, coupled with 545 site access denials and almost 100 theft occurrences, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission, or NCC, which has raised alarm about the ongoing attacks on telecommunications infrastructure.

The Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the announcement Thursday at the Industry Sustainability and Critical National Information Infrastructure, or CNII, Conference in Lagos.

Regulators, operators, and other stakeholders convened during the event, which had as its theme “Telecom Industry Sustainability and CNII Factor – Way Forward,” a medium to discuss the crisis endangering Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

Though telecom accounts for more than 14.4% of Nigeria’s GDP, the industry is still under attack, according to the EVC, who was represented by Mr. Edoyemi Ogoh, Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department.

“The nervous system of our national digital economy is telecommunications infrastructure,” he said. However, we document more than 1,100 fibre outages, 545 access denials, and almost 100 thefts each week. These are not merely figures; they reflect losses amounting to billions of naira and service interruptions for millions of Nigerians.

“Vandals, thieves, and uncooperative communities are on the increase steadily targeting telecom equipment, which is classed as Critical National Information equipment, or CNII, including towers, fibre connections, base stations, and data centres.

The important services including banking, healthcare, education, and security are always being impacted by these interruptions.

Other significant obstacles include inadequate power supplies, lengthy approval processes for Right-of-Ways, escalating cybersecurity dangers, and security hazards in areas vulnerable to conflict.

“Where operators rebuild the same fibre lines every week and technicians are attacked, the industry cannot prosper.”

“Let this not be just another conference,” he continued. To protect our digital future, let there be a national awakening.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, backed the need for action and cautioned that the current state of affairs is untenable.

He called on communities and the media to support the safeguarding effort, saying that “each base station lost is a step backward for Nigeria’s digital economy.”

Stakeholders agreed, recognized and concur that protecting infrastructure needs to be a national priority since the industry continues to spur innovation, jobs, and economic expansion.

The telecom sector has transformed from a service business to the foundation of Nigeria’s digital revolution, the EVC highlighted. “We are not connected. Critical industries including finance, energy, education, health, and governance are increasingly supported by telecom. These resources need to be safeguarded as national infrastructure, Dr. Maida claimed.

He claims that the dangers go beyond simple physical damage and include a complex web of vulnerabilities brought about by cyberattacks, power outages, growing operating expenses, and regional insecurity. He warned that a perfect storm is being created by vandalism, red tape, electricity instability, and growing cyberthreats.

He did, however, confirm that the NCC has implemented a multifaceted security framework that consists of increased interagency cooperation with security and legal authorities, stringent enforcement of technical standards, and national public awareness programs.

“We are working with the National Assembly, state solicitors and the Office of the National Security Adviser to reclassify telecom vandalism as economic sabotage,” Maida disclosed.

In order to settle disputes that are impeding the deployment of infrastructure, the commission has also established Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) platforms in states like Kogi and Osun. The first tool is usually engagement. But if that doesn’t work, we’ll enforce to safeguard our nation’s digital lifeline, not to punish,” he said.

In order to protect the infrastructure, Dr. Maida listed five strategic recommendations: regular public education, formalising multi-stakeholder engagement, streamlining permission processes, enhancing real-time intelligence sharing, and toughening penalties for offenders. He cautioned that damaging telecom infrastructure constitutes economic treason. That must be reflected in the law so everyone can be aware.

In addition, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has Engr as its chairman. The frequent attacks on vital communications assets were bemoaned by Gbenga Adebayo. The foundation of our digital economy is telecom infrastructure. Adebayo, however, pointed out that it is constantly under threat and urged host communities and operators to implement layered security measures like surveillance, fencing, and restricted access.

Chike Onwuegbuchi, the president of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), also urged speedy legislative support to make telecom vandalism a national economic crime. In order to fund focused enforcement and community safety efforts, he suggested creating a Telecom Security Trust Fund that would be based after governmental security trust funds.