The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported a notable decline in fibre-optic cable cuts, recording 1,883 incidents in the first quarter of 2026. This marks a significant reduction from the volatility observed in 2025, when the industry averaged over 2,400 cuts per month, totaling more than 19,000 incidents in just eight months.
Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, attributed this improvement to strict enforcement of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024 and enhanced collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Road construction and civil engineering works remain the leading cause of cuts, though negligent damage by contractors has dropped by approximately 30 percent due to the new 'He Who Cuts Must Fix' policy.
The NCC, in partnership with the NSCDC, has successfully prosecuted several construction firms for failing to conduct pre-construction verification of fibre routes. Maida stated: 'While 1,883 cuts in a single quarter is still too high for a modern digital economy, the trajectory is moving in the right direction. The designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure has changed the game. It is no longer just a civil matter; it is a criminal offence to damage these lifelines of our economy.'
Despite the drop in frequency, the NCC warned that the financial and social impact remains high. Fibre cuts were responsible for nearly 52 percent of mobile network outages in the preceding year, affecting USSD banking services, healthcare data access, and digital commerce. The Commission noted that the cost of repairs remains a burden on Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), who spent an estimated N14 billion on infrastructure restoration between 2022 and 2023 alone.
Meanwhile, mobile networks are becoming more reliable as operators invest billions in infrastructure upgrades, driving a 170 percent surge in data use and a sharp drop in consumer complaints. Maida revealed that operators upgraded over 3,000 tower sites last year, with a target of 12,000 for 2026. About 2,800 of those upgrades have been completed as of April. He disclosed that one operator alone spent roughly $1 billion on network upgrades, emphasizing that industry-wide investment topped $1 billion in 2025.
According to the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, these upgrades are yielding results. Consumer complaints fell from 351,000 in January 2025 to 76,000 in January 2026, representing a 78 percent drop. Maida noted that 52 percent of telecom users have now migrated from 2G and 3G to 4G, reflecting wider smartphone adoption. Data consumption nationwide has jumped more than 170 percent.
On security, Maida said the Office of the National Security Adviser is coordinating efforts against cybercrime and criminal use of digital platforms. He added that the NCC has rolled out a revised Internet code of practice for operators to take down harmful content.
