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Nigeria’s telecommunications sector recorded 5,934 fibre cuts between January and March 2026, highlighting the growing vulnerability of the country’s digital infrastructure and reinforcing calls for stronger protection of telecom assets designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
Data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) network outage portal revealed that the incidents disrupted voice services, SMS, broadband connectivity, enterprise networks, fintech operations, and other digital services across multiple states during the first quarter of the year.
The figures translate to an average of approximately 65 fibre cuts daily, nearly 1,978 monthly, and about 495 weekly, underscoring what industry stakeholders increasingly describe as one of the most significant operational threats to Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
Major telecom and infrastructure providers affected during the period included MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, 9mobile, FibreOne, Tizeti, Layer3, Equinix, Broadband Communications Network (BCN), and several other service providers.
According to industry reports, most of the disruptions were caused by road construction activities, accidental cable damage, excavation works, vandalism, bush burning, and infrastructure theft.
Stakeholders say the rising scale of service interruptions highlights the urgent need for more effective implementation of Nigeria’s CNII protection framework, particularly as the country advances broadband expansion, 5G deployment, digital public infrastructure, and financial technology services.
Growing Pressure on Telecom Infrastructure
Fibre optic infrastructure remains central to Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, serving as the backbone for mobile communication, internet connectivity, cloud services, banking platforms, enterprise operations, government digital systems, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Industry experts warn that a single fibre cut can trigger cascading disruptions across multiple sectors, affecting ATMs, hospitals, financial transactions, logistics systems, security infrastructure, and millions of digital users simultaneously.
The repeated outages are increasingly raising concerns among businesses already grappling with unstable electricity supply, inflationary pressures, and rising operational costs amid growing dependence on digital platforms.
Several of the most severe disruptions recorded during the first quarter extended beyond 24 hours, while some outages persisted for days and, in certain cases, weeks, particularly in regions experiencing large-scale construction activities.
States including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Kaduna, Enugu, Borno, Taraba, Anambra, and Akwa Ibom ranked among the areas most affected by fibre-related outages during the period.
Why the NCC’s CNII Enforcement Push Matters
The rising number of fibre cuts comes amid intensified efforts by the NCC and industry stakeholders to strengthen protection for telecommunications assets under Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure framework.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously signed an Executive Order designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, placing telecom assets alongside oil pipelines, electricity infrastructure, and key national security assets in terms of strategic importance.
The designation was expected to curb vandalism, improve coordination around public infrastructure projects, and strengthen enforcement against deliberate damage to telecom facilities.
However, telecom operators continue to express concerns over weak implementation, particularly around road construction projects where fibre cables are frequently damaged during excavation activities due to poor coordination between contractors, government agencies, and infrastructure providers.
Industry executives estimate that operators spend billions of naira annually repairing damaged fibre infrastructure—resources that could otherwise be redirected toward network expansion, rural broadband penetration, and service quality improvements.
Digital Economy Ambitions Under Threat
The fibre disruption challenge comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
The Federal Government continues to accelerate initiatives around broadband penetration, fintech expansion, digital identity systems, e-government platforms, and artificial intelligence adoption, all of which rely heavily on stable telecommunications infrastructure.
Speaking recently on the growing attacks against telecom infrastructure, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasised the importance of stronger institutional protection for telecom infrastructure as Nigeria deepens its digital economy ambitions.
Analysts warn that unless telecom infrastructure protection becomes fully integrated into national infrastructure planning, repeated disruptions could undermine Nigeria’s long-term digital growth objectives and weaken investor confidence in the sector.
The persistent outages also pose additional risks to telecom operators already contending with foreign exchange volatility, inflation, rising diesel prices, and increasing capital expenditure requirements.
For businesses and consumers, the consequences remain immediate and visible, ranging from dropped calls and failed digital transactions to poor internet connectivity, interrupted online services, and prolonged operational downtime.
Stakeholders are therefore calling for stricter enforcement of CNII protection measures, broader adoption of “dig-once” policies during road construction projects, improved inter-agency coordination, and stronger penalties for vandalism and negligent infrastructure damage.
As Nigeria becomes increasingly digitised, industry experts argue that fibre infrastructure can no longer be treated as ordinary telecom equipment but as strategic national infrastructure essential to economic productivity, financial stability, national security, and digital inclusion.
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