*Nigerian network operators under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, lament how vital components, including fibre optic cables, power cables, rectifiers, batteries, diesel generators, and solar panels are routinely stolen or destroyed from active base stations

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian network operators have lamented the increasing menace of theft and vandalism of telecoms infrastructure that have threatened stable connectivity in especially Delta, Ogun and Lagos states.

绿帽献妻 reports the network operators under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said these states are fast becoming a hotbed for vandals of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

Damaged telecoms infrastructure聽 聽 聽 聽 Photo: NCC

The network operators also raised the alarm over rising attacks on their infrastructure in certain parts of Nigeria.

The Telcos warned that states, such as Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Edo, Kogi, FCT, Kaduna, Niger, Osun, Kwara, and Abuja are fast becoming hotspots for vandalism.

ALTON stressed the increasing wave of theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure is threatening their ability to deliver stable network services.

Hitherto, in a decisive move to address this menace, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, August 2024, signed an Executive Order (EO) that has designated telecoms assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) in Nigeria.

According to Federal Government, the CNII so classified include power plants, oil pipelines, roads, water systems, hospitals, and now telecoms infrastructure.

The Presidential Order also noted the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are to safeguard the critical information infrastructure across the West African country.

Countries, such as the United States (US), China, and India, telecoms vandalism carries stiff penalties, a model Nigeria is seeking to replicate, according to report.

Major causes of poor network services, by ALTON

Likewise, according to the President’s Executive Order on CNII, telecoms infrastructure vandals face up to 10 years in jail.

Telecoms consumers

However, this has failed to deter vandals, industry stakeholders claimed.

ALTON, in a communiqu茅, stated: 鈥淏etween May and July 2025, multiple incidents of vandalism were recorded across cell sites in Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and many other states.

鈥淭hese acts of sabotage have significantly disrupted network services, causing widespread connectivity blackouts, leading to degradation of services and severely impacting millions of subscribers.”

Besides, data from the Nigerian Communications Commission鈥檚 (NCC) outage portal, telecoms operators, including MTN Nigeria, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile reportedly recorded 656 major outages with nearly 70 percent caused by vandalism, in 2025 thus far.

Vital components, such as fibre optic cables, power cables, rectifiers, batteries, diesel generators, and solar panels are routinely stolen or destroyed from active network sites, noted the operators.

According to MNOs, the telecoms industry lost an estimated $23 million to fibre cuts, primarily from vandalism and construction activity 2023.

Such fibre cuts resulted in widespread service outages, underscoring the critical role of fibre in powering connectivity in the country’s ecosystem.

As of 2023, Nigeria had deployed 78,676 kilometres of fibre optic cable, with most concentrated in urban areas like Lagos (7,864.60km), Edo (4,892.71km), FCT (4,472.03km), Ogun (4,189.18km), and Niger (3,681.66km).

Emergence of ‘black market’ for stolen telecoms equipment

Underscoring the strategic importance of these assets, the Telcos stated: 鈥淭hese are not mere materials, but they are the backbone of our digital economy, security systems, and national communications grid.”

The network providers also frowned on a growing “black market” for stolen telecoms equipment in the country.

ALTON, therefore, warned the public against buying items, such as power cables, rectifiers, batteries, and diesel fuel from unverified sources in the telecoms space.

The Association further stated: 鈥淚f you buy stolen telecoms equipment, you are not just complicit, you are part of the crime.”

In order to boost connectivity and service quality, the Association notes that they have increased investments in network infrastructure across the country.

The Telcos, however, emphasised that persistent attacks on these prime communication assets might frustrate these efforts in the industry.

NCC: Telecoms infrastructure is lifeline of economy, prosperity

As part of its continual consumer education and sensitisation initiatives, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasised that damaging telecoms infrastructure as a significant aspect of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) negatively affects all Nigerians.

The NCC, in a series of recent public enlightenment messages via digital platforms, warned all Nigerians against the far-reaching impact of damaged telecoms infrastructure on consumers, businesses, social services, and the entire economy.

It has also been said that telecommunications industry is the very pivot upon which all other sectors of the economy rotate.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, August 2024, had signed and issued an Executive Order (EO) on Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure as a consequential need to protect the country鈥檚 communication assets from vandalisation, theft, robbery, arson, and other dangers lurking around the ecosystem.

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission also averred: “Damaging telecoms infrastructure affects us all鈥攆rom access to healthcare and mobile banking to education and staying connected with loved ones.”

In regard to the extent of damage to Nigeria’s critical national assets in recent years, the NCC July 2025, restated that “over 50,000 cases of vandalism have been reported in the last five years.”

Hitherto, the Commission had activated series of public enlightenment campaign initiatives to sensitise Nigerian public about the collective efforts at safeguarding the CNII and other national assets with USSD messages to telecoms consumers鈥� mobile phones and others devices.

In one of such sensitisation messages via several digital platforms, the NCC stated: 鈥淧rotect Nigeria鈥檚 telecoms infrastructure! They are critical national assets protected by law.

鈥淩eport vandalism to cniireport@ncc.gov.ng or dial 622. Let鈥檚 safeguard our future!鈥�

Underscoring the significance of protecting the national information infrastructure in the telecoms ecosystem, the industry regulator, in another Short Messaging Service (SMS) also said, 鈥渢elecoms infrastructure is a national treasure! Let鈥檚 protect it together.”

The Commission further urged all Nigerians: “Let鈥檚 protect the network that connects us.

Report any suspicious activity to protect@ncc.gov.ng or call 622.”

 

On collective protection of telecoms assets

The communiqu茅 noted: 鈥淲e are working around the clock to improve the quality of service nationwide, and we cannot afford these setbacks.”

The network operators as well appealed to Nigerians to join their fight against the vandalism of telecoms infrastructure.

ALTON said: 鈥淭hese assets serve us all; they enable our banking systems, security infrastructure, emergency response, education, health services, and the very platforms that power daily communication.

“An attack on telecom infrastructure is an attack on our economy and our security.”

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