The backbone of Nigeria's digital connectivity is under sustained assault, as a relentless wave of fibre optic cable cuts continues to cripple telecommunication services across multiple states and communities. The latest statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) paint a grim picture of a national infrastructure crisis with severe economic and social consequences.
NCC Data Reveals Widespread Damage Across States
Fresh data from the telecoms regulator shows the crisis is intensifying. As recently as last weekend, one of the nation's leading telecom operators suffered significant fibre cuts. The affected states include Adamawa, Bauchi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Niger. The operator also reported infrastructure damage in Cross River State, highlighting the geographical spread of the problem.
This is not an isolated event but part of a devastating trend that carried over from 2025. Checks by industry analysts reveal that between January and August 2025 alone, the NCC documented a staggering over 19,000 incidents of fibre-optic cable cuts. This alarming figure is compounded by 3,200 cases of equipment theft and over 19,000 incidents where telecom engineers were denied access to repair sites.
Accidental and Intentional Attacks Fuel National Crisis
The causes of this telecoms emergency are multifaceted but fall primarily into two categories. The single largest driver of damage is accidental, stemming from road construction and other civil works where cables are excavated without proper coordination. However, intentional vandalism and theft also contribute significantly to the breakdown.
The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has provided a chilling metric for the scale of the problem. The industry body reports that as of last year, the country was witnessing an alarming average of about 1,100 fibre cuts every week. This persistent damage, whether from bulldozers or criminals, translates directly into widespread network outages for millions of Nigerians.
N27 Billion Loss and a Crippled Digital Future
The financial and operational toll on the telecommunications sector is massive. The industry has incurred an estimated loss of N27 billion due to fibre-related damages. This colossal sum represents resources that are being diverted from critical network expansion into endless repair cycles and costly redundancy measures.
The consequences for everyday Nigerians are profound and far-reaching. The network disruptions impact critical services that depend on stable connectivity:
- Banking and financial transactions are frequently halted.
- Healthcare services that rely on digital systems are compromised.
- Security operations and communication are hindered.
- Remote work and education, vital for the modern economy, become impossible.
Both the NCC and industry bodies like ALTON have raised urgent alarms over the sheer volume of infrastructure damage. They warn that Nigeria's ambitious digital economy goals are under severe threat if this menace is not curtailed. The situation creates a vicious cycle where telecom operators spend to fix broken lines instead of laying new ones to underserved areas, thereby deepening the digital divide and stunting national growth.
