Telecoms Sector Reels as 656 Power Assets Stolen in 2025, Vandalism Crisis Deepens
Nigeria's $76 billion telecommunications industry has been severely battered by a resurgence of infrastructure theft, with sophisticated criminal networks looting 656 critical power assets in 2025 alone. This alarming trend has raised fresh concerns about network reliability and quality of service across the nation.
Staggering Theft Figures Revealed by NCC Data
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals that a total of 152 generators and 504 batteries were stolen within the year under review. The theft crisis extends beyond power assets, with 1,344 cases of diesel thefts and 49 incidents of vandalism and sabotage recorded during the same period.
Despite the Federal Government's declaration of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure to ensure adequate protection, the NCC data shows that theft has continued on an even larger scale into 2026. Specifically, data for January and February 2026 reflects a continuation of the trend with 64 batteries and 17 generators stolen in just the first two months of the year.
Cable and Diesel Thefts Escalate Dramatically
Cables and diesel thefts have continued on a massive scale, with January 2026 witnessing 160 cases of cable theft reported—dwarfing the 74 recorded in the same period last year. February saw 151 cases reported compared with 73 in the same period last year. Diesel thefts also remain rampant, with a total of 222 incidents recorded between January and February 2026.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), described the matter as a huge setback for the sector. "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," Adebayo stated.
However, he noted that the thefts and vandalization of equipment have been a cog in the wheel of the progress that could have been made. The ALTON boss emphasised 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.
Geographic Hotspots and Network Impact
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," Adebayo explained. "These are not mere materials, but they are the backbone of our digital economy, security systems, and national communications grid."
Financial Toll and Service Disruptions
Telecom expert Kehinde Aluko noted that through theft, vandalism, and similar activities, telecom operators are facing massive financial losses from the direct replacement of stolen hardware. Aluko revealed that operators reported an average of 1,100 fibre cuts weekly in late 2025, and by January 2026, the industry saw a 900 per cent spike in monthly fibre damage compared to the end of 2024.
He recalled that in 2023, repairs and redundancies cost the industry approximately ₦14 billion. Current 2025/2026 trends suggest these costs are rising significantly, weakening the Return on Investment (RoI) for mobile network operators.
"Vandalism is the leading cause of dropped calls, slow Internet, and total service outages," Aluko stated. "In May 2025, a peak of 88 major network outages occurred specifically due to equipment theft and fibre cuts."
Regulatory Response and Accountability Measures
Earlier in the month, NCC Chairman Idris Olorunimbe, while on an inspection tour of some operators' infrastructure in Lagos, addressed the issue of dropped calls. "Dropped calls are not deliberate. They are usually caused by issues such as fiber cuts, vandalism, or attacks on telecom infrastructure," Olorunimbe explained.
"However, we've seen data showing a significant reduction in such incidents, and this will continue as the Critical National Infrastructure program expands. We are also introducing an accountability framework—anyone who damages telecom infrastructure will be responsible for fixing it. This will encourage more caution during construction activities."
The NCC Chairman added, "Let me also add that dropped calls are not in the interest of network operators. Reliable service means longer usage, which benefits them financially. So they are equally committed to minimizing disruptions."
The physical destruction of infrastructure directly translates to a poor digital experience for subscribers, with the telecoms sector continuing to grapple with this escalating crisis that threatens Nigeria's digital transformation ambitions.
