The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recorded 5,934 fibre-optic cable cuts between January and June 2026, an average of about 33 cuts daily, putting banking apps, PoS terminals, mobile internet, online businesses, cloud services, and government platforms at risk.
Scale of Fibre Damage Across Nigeria
The cuts raise fresh concerns over the vulnerability of Nigeria's digital infrastructure and the potential economic cost of prolonged disruptions. Industry stakeholders warn that continued attacks and accidental damage to telecom infrastructure could undermine economic activities and expose critical systems to serious disruptions.
The impact was recently felt in Abuja after a cut on the Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN) affected data and internet services across parts of the Federal Capital Territory. Subscribers, businesses, government offices, and financial service providers experienced slow internet speeds, unstable connections, and outright service disruptions. Online transactions were affected, while Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), cloud-based applications, streaming services, and other digital platforms became unreliable.
Major Causes and Trouble Spots
Industry stakeholders say road construction, excavation, and other civil works account for 60% or more of fibre damage, with vandalism and theft also contributing significantly. In many cases, contractors reportedly begin excavation without accurate information about underground telecom routes, while poor coordination between utility companies and construction teams increases the risk of cables being severed.
Major trouble spots include parts of the Southeast and Southsouth, Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Kano, and Kaduna — areas that also carry significant volumes of business, banking, and fintech traffic.
Economic and Operational Impact
Fibre-optic infrastructure forms the backbone of Nigeria's digital economy, carrying huge volumes of data used by mobile networks, broadband providers, data centres, and international connectivity systems. When a major fibre route is cut, operators must locate the damaged section, gain access, repair or replace the cable, splice the fibres, and test the connection before services can fully recover. Even where alternative routes exist, a major cut can reduce network capacity and affect large numbers of users.
Industry estimates have put the annual cost of fibre damage, including repairs, lost revenue, and operational disruptions, at between N27 billion and N35 billion. Failed PoS terminals and banking applications can cost small businesses sales, while remote workers, students, hospitals, and government agencies can also lose access to essential digital services.
Next Steps for Protection
With Nigeria having more than 150 million internet subscriptions and data consumption continuing to rise, reliable connectivity is now essential infrastructure for economic activity. Telecom operators and regulators have continued to push for better coordination between network providers, construction companies, government agencies, and security authorities. The Federal Government has further designated telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, giving it stronger legal protection.
