Telecommunications operators in Nigeria are grappling with a growing wave of infrastructure theft, as newly released data from the Nigerian Communications Commission shows that 656 critical power assets were stolen from telecom sites across the country in 2025.
According to the NCC data, a total of 152 generators and 504 batteries were stolen within the year, raising fresh concerns about network reliability and quality of service. The infrastructure theft debacle is not limited to generators and batteries alone as rampant cases of cables and diesel thefts are also reported.
Despite the declaration of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure by the federal government to ensure adequate protection, the NCC data shows that theft of telecom has continued even on a larger scale into 2026. Data for January and February 2026 reflected a continuation of the trend with 64 batteries and 17 generators stolen in the first two months of the year. Cables and diesel thefts have continued on a massive scale. In January this year, 160 cases of cable theft were reported, dwarfing 74 recorded in the same period last year. In February, 151 cases were reported compared with 73 in the same period last year. The same goes for diesel thefts, with a total of 222 incidents recorded between January and February 2026.
Speaking on the issues, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the rising attacks on telecom infrastructure are causing a major setback for the industry. According to him, the operators have been doing their best by investing in network optimisation and capacity upgrades, following the federal government’s policy interventions early last year to support the industry’s sustainability. He, however, noted that the thefts and vandalization of equipment have been a cog in the wheel of the progress that could have been made. He emphasized that critical components such as power cables, rectifiers, fibre optic cables, feeder cables, diesel generators, batteries, and solar systems are being stolen or vandalised from active telecoms sites. The association had earlier disclosed that states such as Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Kogi, FCT, Kaduna, Niger, Osun, and Kwara have been recording the highest number of attacks on telecoms infrastructure.
“These acts of sabotage have significantly disrupted network services, causing widespread connectivity blackouts leading to degradation of services and severely impacting millions of subscribers. These are not mere materials, but they are the backbone of our digital economy, security systems, and national communications grid,” he said.
A Lagos-based telecom consultant, Mr. Adewale Adeoye, said the perennial theft of telecom equipment is costing the operators billions of naira every year. According to him, a single base station (BTS) usually runs on about 15 KVA generator, while co-located tower (multiple operators) may require 27 KVA or higher. With an estimated cost of N3.5 million for a 15 KVA generators, Adeoye said the theft of 656 generators and batteries in one year is a huge loss that will cost the operators billions of naira to replace. He, however, noted that the operators would need to take charge and spend more to secure their properties rather than wait for the government to do so.
“If you are spending billions to build infrastructure, you also have to spend money to secure it. While this should not have been the case in an ideal situation where the government is responsible for security of lives and properties, years of continuous attacks and thefts have shown that the government cannot be relied upon. So, the telecom operators have to up their game in protecting their facilities,” he said.
The issue of equipment thefts complicates the challenges faced by the telecom operators, who are still grappling with increasing fibre cuts. Earlier this year, the telcos recorded a dramatic surge in fibre optic cable damage in January 2026, with incidents rising by 900% compared to the previous month, according to official data. Analysis of incident reports published by the NCC shows that fibre cuts increased from just 4 cases in December 2025 to 40 incidents in January 2026, marking one of the steepest month-on-month spikes in recent years. The spike came despite the Federal Government’s 2024 designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), a policy aimed at protecting network assets from vandalism and accidental destruction.
In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed an official gazette designating telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure and making it a criminal offence for anyone to tamper with or wilfully destroy such infrastructure in the country. According to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the gazette, ‘Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024’, is a significant step that would strengthen and protect investments in the ICT sector. However, the gazette has not translated to a reduction in theft or vandilizaion of telecom infrastructure.
In February this year, the NCC and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had to issue a joint statement threatening to prosecute construction firms, contractors, and individuals responsible for damaging fibre optic cables during road construction and other civil works. According to them, avoidable fibre damage caused by negligence, poor coordination, or unauthorised excavation now constitutes a criminal offence under existing laws, stressing that enforcement will be stepped up nationwide. They warned that the destruction of telecom infrastructure poses a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and public safety, especially as Nigeria becomes increasingly reliant on digital connectivity for commerce and public services.
