The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised serious concerns about the increasing challenges faced by telecom operators due to widespread fibre cuts, equipment theft, and vandalism. These issues are leading to massive financial losses, costing the telecom industry billions of Naira annually. During the launch of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Protection and Resilience Workshop, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, highlighted the urgent need for strengthened security measures to safeguard Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.
This workshop comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order, which officially designates telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). This designation is intended to protect telecom assets from threats that affect service quality and operational efficiency, and the workshop’s focus is to ensure effective implementation of the new directive.
Dr. Maida emphasized that limited access to telecom facilities, imposed by landowners and certain government bodies, is hampering expansion efforts and compounding connectivity issues across Nigeria.
For years, stakeholders in the telecom industry have pushed for government recognition of telecom assets as national assets, urging stronger measures against vandalism. Earlier this year, Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), drew attention to these ongoing challenges following network disruptions caused by damaged fibre optic cables.
The scale of the problem is significant. In 2023, MTN Nigeria reported over 6,000 incidents of fibre cuts, which forced the company to relocate around 2,500 kilometers of vulnerable fibre lines at a cost exceeding N11 billion—funds that could have been invested in expanding services to unserved areas. Similarly, Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Carl Cruz, revealed that the company faces an average of 1,000 fibre-cut incidents each month, underscoring the pressing need for reinforced infrastructure protection.
While the recent CNII designation has brought renewed hope for improved security, industry experts caution that the policy’s success will depend on consistent enforcement. Previous attempts, including measures introduced by former Communications Minister Dr. Isa Pantami in 2020, fell short in fully addressing vandalism, leaving telecom infrastructure still vulnerable to attacks.
