Fibre Cuts and Infrastructure Vandalism Threaten Nigeria’s Telecoms Sector
The Nigerian telecommunications sector is grappling with a significant challenge: widespread damage and disruption to its critical infrastructure. Between January and August 2025, the industry experienced a staggering 19,384 fibre cuts, highlighting the vulnerability of telecom networks across the country. These figures were revealed by the Executive Vice-chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, during a recent roundtable discussion. The increasing frequency of these attacks poses a severe threat to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy and raises national security concerns.
Telecom Infrastructure Under Siege: Fibre Cuts, Theft, and Site Denials
Beyond fibre cuts, the telecoms sector is facing a multifaceted attack on its infrastructure. During the same eight-month period, the industry witnessed 3,241 incidents of equipment theft. Furthermore, operators struggled with over 19,000 cases of denied access to telecom sites, leading to prolonged network shutdowns. These acts of vandalism and obstruction are causing substantial financial losses for mobile network operators (MNOs) and are directly impacting internet connectivity nationwide. The disruption caused by these incidents affects the ability of Nigerians to access essential services and participate in the increasingly digital economy, representing a significant setback for digital inclusion initiatives.
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Related Keywords: Nigerian telecoms, fibre cuts, network outages, telecoms infrastructure, Nigeria, internet disruption, fibre optic cable, 19, 384 cuts, telecoms industry, network damage
