Nigeria Faces Over 19,000 Fibre Cuts in 2025, Threatening Digital Economy Goals

Nigeria’s telecommunications backbone is under mounting pressure, as operators have reported over 19,000 fibre cutsbetween January and August 2025, according to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The incidents — compounded by rampant equipment theft, site vandalism, and restricted access to telecom facilities— have led to widespread network disruptions, service downtimes, and mounting financial losses across the industry.

Speaking at a Business Roundtable on Broadband Investment and Infrastructure Protection in Abuja, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, described the escalating vandalism as a critical threat to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

“Connectivity is the quiet enabler of productivity, commerce, and even security. When it fails, opportunities evaporate, and in critical situations, lives can be put at risk,”
— Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC.

According to Maida, the Commission recorded 19,384 fibre cuts, 3,241 cases of equipment theft, and over 19,000 denials of access to telecom sites within just eight months — a trend he said undermines the nation’s broadband expansion efforts and threatens economic stability.

Broadband: The Backbone of Nigeria’s Growth

With broadband penetration at 48.81% and over 140 million Nigerians online, the telecom industry remains a key driver of GDP growth. Citing a World Bank study, Maida noted that every 10% increase in broadband penetration can boost GDP by up to 1.38%, underscoring the importance of protecting digital infrastructure as a pillar of national development.

Under the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025), Nigeria aims to achieve 70% broadband penetration and deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic backbone by the end of 2025. However, persistent challenges — including fibre vandalism, high Right of Way (RoW) charges, energy costs, and multiple taxation — continue to hinder progress.

Strengthening Infrastructure Protection

To address these threats, the NCC, in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is enforcing the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024.

The CNII Order empowers law enforcement agencies to crack down on vandalism, impose stiffer penalties for sabotage, and enforce stricter security standards for telecom installations. Maida revealed that joint operations with ONSA have dismantled major cartels involved in telecom equipment theft, while collaboration with state governments, security agencies, and the judiciary is being strengthened to accelerate prosecution and deterrence.

“Every governor holds a strategic lever,” Maida emphasized. “Waiving Right of Way charges and protecting telecom infrastructure can determine whether a state prospers or stagnates in the digital era.”

Encouragingly, eleven states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Benue, and Zamfara, have completely waived RoW fees, helping fast-track fibre deployment. The NCC urged other states to replicate this model to accelerate broadband rollout nationwide.

Driving Digital Readiness Across States

As part of its broader strategy to improve digital infrastructure and transparency, the NCC announced plans to introduce two new initiatives:

• Ease of Doing Business Portal, designed to streamline regulatory processes and enhance investor confidence.

• Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI), which will benchmark states on their digital readiness and broadband adoption.

Maida called for a united front between governments, operators, and private sector stakeholders to safeguard telecom infrastructure and expand broadband access.

“Pipelines of oil are giving way to pipelines of fibre,” he said. “The digital revolution will not wait — Nigeria must align, invest, and protect its networks or risk being left behind.”

The NCC’s warning comes as Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions hinge on reliable connectivity — the foundation for innovation, e-commerce, e-governance, and financial inclusion. Protecting this infrastructure, Maida stressed, is not just a technical priority but an economic imperative for sustainable growth.