Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure is in crisis, records over 1,100 fibre cuts weekly resulting from vandalism.

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised concerns over the increasing attacks on telecommunications infrastructure in the country. According to Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Nigeria records an average of 1,100 fibre optic cuts weekly, alongside 545 site access denials and nearly 100 incidents of theft. These attacks are crippling the sector, which contributes over 14.4% to Nigeria’s GDP.

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“The telecommunications infrastructure is the nervous system of our national digital economy,” Maida said. “Yet, every week, we record over 1,100 fibre cuts, 545 cases of access denial, and nearly 100 thefts. These are not just statistics; they represent service disruptions for millions of Nigerians and losses running into billions of naira.”

The NCC boss emphasized that telecom infrastructure, including towers, fibre lines, base stations, and data centres, classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), are increasingly being targeted by vandals, thieves, and uncooperative communities. This is impacting essential services such as banking, healthcare, education, and security.

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), warned that the situation is unsustainable. “Every base station lost is a step backward for Nigeria’s digital economy,” he said, urging the media and communities to join efforts to protect telecom infrastructure.

The NCC has proposed several measures to address the issue, including sustained public education, formalizing multi-stakeholder collaboration, simplifying permit procedures, improving real-time intelligence sharing, and imposing stiffer sanctions on perpetrators. “Let this not just be another conference,” Maida stressed. “Let it be a national awakening to secure our digital future”.

Key Challenges Facing the Telecom Sector:

– Fibre Optic Cuts: 1,100 fibre cuts recorded weekly, disrupting services and causing losses

– Site Access Denials: 545 cases of access denial reported weekly, hindering maintenance and repair

– Theft and Vandalism: Nearly 100 incidents of theft recorded weekly, targeting critical infrastructure

– Poor Power Supply: Inadequate power supply affecting telecom operations

– Bureaucratic Delays: Delays in Right-of-Way approvals hindering infrastructure deployment

– Cybersecurity Threats: Growing threats to telecom infrastructure and services

The stakeholders agree that safeguarding infrastructure must become a national priority to drive innovation, employment, and economic growth

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