The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has revealed that road construction, excavation, and other civil engineering activities resulted in over 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts throughout Nigeria during the first half of 2026.
The commission indicated that these incidents were primarily due to inadequate coordination among construction firms, government bodies, and telecommunications providers prior to the commencement of excavation work. It cautioned that ongoing damage to fibre infrastructure could jeopardize the nation’s digital economy.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, made this announcement on Tuesday in Abuja at a Stakeholder Workshop focused on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables during road construction, rehabilitation, and other civil works.
Maida emphasized that the extent of the damage highlighted the necessity for a transition from merely responding to fibre cuts after they occur to implementing preventive measures through effective planning and information sharing.
He pointed out that both roads and fibre networks are essential infrastructures for national development, asserting that the growth of one should not compromise the other.
He said, “Before the first shovel hit the ground, there was frequently minimal or no coordination,” identifying the lack of early engagement among stakeholders as a significant contributor to these incidents.
He noted that fibre infrastructure has become crucial for banking, government services, education, healthcare, commerce, security, and emergency communications, implying that damage to a cable could lead to repercussions that extend well beyond the immediate financial impact on a telecommunications operator.
He recalled that fibre cuts in February 2024 resulted in nearly a network-wide disruption for one telecommunications provider, leaving millions unable to make calls, send messages, or access the internet for several hours.
The disruption, he stated, subsequently exerted pressure on other networks as affected subscribers transitioned to them, demonstrating how damage to a single network could lead to broader repercussions for the economy and its citizens.
“A damaged fibre cable is not merely an expense for an operator; it represents a cost to Nigerians and the larger economy,” Maida remarked.
The NCC chief indicated that the Federal Government had initiated measures to tackle the persistent issue through the Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables, which was established by the Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
He noted that the committee was tasked with creating effective coordination mechanisms prior to, during, and after road construction and other civil projects.
As he explained, the workshop aimed to ensure that construction companies, engineers, contractors, and site supervisors were aware of the risks involved in working near fibre infrastructure, which has been classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
“Every fibre cut we avert is more than just an engineering achievement. It represents a connection that is maintained, a payment that is processed, a lesson that persists, and a public service that remains accessible,” Maida emphasized.
The NCC leader urged telecommunications operators to provide precise information regarding cable routes, contractors to confirm infrastructure locations prior to excavation, and government agencies to promote timely information sharing.
“Coordination must be integral to the design and execution of every relevant project,” he asserted.
Additionally, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, represented by the Director of Telecoms and Postal Services, Stanley Musa, emphasized that safeguarding fibre infrastructure is a collective national obligation.
The disruption, he said, subsequently placed pressure on other networks as affected subscribers migrated to them, illustrating how damage to a single network could trigger wider consequences for the economy and citizens.
“A damaged fibre cable is therefore not simply a cost to an operator; it is a cost to Nigerians and to the wider economy,” Maida said.
The NCC chief said the Federal Government had taken steps to address the recurring problem through the Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables, inaugurated by the Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
He said the committee was mandated to establish practical coordination mechanisms before, during and after road construction and other civil works.
According to him, the workshop was designed to ensure that construction companies, engineers, contractors and site supervisors understood the risks associated with working around fibre infrastructure, which has been designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
“Every fibre cut we prevent is more than an engineering success. It is a call that connects, a payment that goes through, a lesson that continues, a public service that remains available,” Maida stressed.
The NCC boss urged telecommunications operators to provide accurate information on cable routes, contractors to verify infrastructure locations before excavation, and government agencies to facilitate timely information sharing.
“Coordination must be part of every relevant project’s design and execution,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, represented by the Director of Telecoms and Postal Services, Stanley Musa, described the protection of fibre infrastructure as a shared national responsibility.
Gagare expressed concern that the government’s initiatives to enhance broadband infrastructure might be compromised by frequent fibre cuts, which disrupt vital services, elevate operational expenses, and potentially deter investment in the digital sector.
He mentioned that the ministry has been collaborating with pertinent stakeholders to bolster adherence to right-of-way regulations and enhance coordination regarding telecommunications infrastructure.
The Permanent Secretary also noted that the National Economic Council had sanctioned a memorandum aimed at standardizing right-of-way charges and instructed the ministry to formulate standards and guidelines for the implementation of shared infrastructure, including the suggested “dig once” strategy.
In his address, the Director of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Air Vice Marshal Effiom Enebong Ewa, stated that each damaged fibre cable signifies more than just a technical issue, considering its repercussions on governance, economic productivity, public services, and the lives of Nigerians.
Ewa indicated that fibre-optic infrastructure has been classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure and cautioned that negligence, interference, or actions that put such assets at risk of damage could be deemed offenses under Nigerian law.
He consequently urged contractors, government entities, telecommunications providers, and other stakeholders to adhere strictly to established protocols and procedures during construction and maintenance operations.
The workshop convened government ministries and agencies, telecommunications providers, construction firms, contractors, security agencies, and other stakeholders to investigate the causes of fibre cuts and devise preventive strategies.
NCC raises alarm as road projects damage 5,000 fibre links in six months