The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has raised a red flag over the rising wave of theft and vandalism targeting telecom infrastructure, warning that the trend is threatening network stability and jeopardizing critical investments in the sector.
In a statement jointly signed by ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, and Publicity Secretary, Barr. Damian Udeh, the association decried the systematic looting of telecom equipment including power cables, rectifiers, batteries, diesel, and solar panels by criminal elements. These items, vital for the operation of base stations and network towers, are reportedly being sold openly in markets and to unsuspecting users.
“This criminal enterprise is crippling service delivery and eroding the progress we’ve made in expanding connectivity nationwide,” the statement read.
Between May and July 2025, ALTON documented multiple incidents of sabotage across several states, including Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory. These acts have resulted in prolonged outages, service disruptions, and connectivity blackouts, affecting millions of Nigerians.
The association also expressed concern over the black-market resale of stolen telecom infrastructure for use in home inverters, household solar systems, and other private applications, further fueling the cycle of theft.
ALTON called on the public to be vigilant and avoid buying suspicious telecom-related equipment, stressing that such purchases make individuals complicit in criminal activity. The association emphasized that telecom infrastructure is officially designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) under Nigerian law, and tampering with it constitutes a serious offense punishable by law.
“If you buy stolen telecom equipment, you’re not just aiding a crime, you are part of it,” ALTON warned.
They urged communities, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies to work collaboratively in protecting the nation’s digital backbone, emphasizing that securing telecom infrastructure is essential to sustaining digital growth, national security, and economic development.
