Telecommunications operators in Nigeria experienced a sharp rise in fibre optic cable damages in January 2026, with incidents soaring by 900 per cent compared to December 2025, official data shows.
A report by the Nigerian Communications Commission shows that fibre cuts jumped from 4 cases in December 2025 to 40 in January 2026, representing one of the steepest month-to-month increases in recent years.
The surge occurred despite the Federal Government’s 2024 designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, a policy intended to safeguard network assets from vandalism and accidental damage.
The NCC incident report indicates that the surge in fibre cuts continued into February.
Between February 1 and 17, 18 new incidents were recorded, bringing the total to 58 disruptions in the first seven weeks of 2026.
Analysis of the January and February data shows that roughly 90 per cent of the incidents occurred in Abuja, with smaller clusters reported in Lagos, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, and Abia states.
Alarmed by the January surge, the NCC and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps issued a joint statement earlier this month, warning that construction firms, contractors, and individuals responsible for damaging fibre optic cables during roadworks or other civil projects would face prosecution.
The agencies emphasized that avoidable fibre damage caused by negligence, poor coordination, or unauthorised excavation is now a criminal offence under existing laws, and vowed to intensify enforcement nationwide.
They cautioned that the destruction of telecommunications infrastructure poses a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and public safety, particularly as Nigeria grows increasingly dependent on digital connectivity for commerce and public services.
The agencies stated that telecom fibre infrastructure is now formally protected under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order 2024.
“Consequently, any damage resulting from unauthorized digging, construction activities, or failure to collaborate with relevant authorities to prevent damage during construction constitutes a criminal offence,” the statement read in part.
They added that offenders—including construction firms, government contractors, and individuals—will be prosecuted and subject to sanctions under existing laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
“Future damage to fibre optic infrastructure caused by excavation, road construction, or any civil engineering activity conducted without due consultation or collaboration with network operators and relevant regulators will attract strict legal consequences,” the agencies warned.
