Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is facing growing challenges as repeated fibre optic cable damage, vandalism, and insecurity continue to disrupt services and slow down progress in modernising the industry.
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, recently highlighted these concerns, explaining that such issues are increasing costs for operators and reducing the quality of service experienced by users.
According to Adebayo, security challenges in certain parts of the country make it difficult for engineers to fix network faults quickly. In some areas, technicians cannot safely access sites in the evening, meaning that repairs are often delayed until the next day. This leads to longer service outages and increased congestion on the network.
When faults occur and are not fixed promptly, the pressure on remaining network capacity rises. This results in slower connections, dropped calls, and a generally poor user experience. Adebayo compared the situation to a blocked highway, where traffic builds up due to limited available routes.
Although the government, led by Bola Tinubu, has classified telecom fibre infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure—making it illegal to deliberately damage it—problems persist. Authorities and security agencies have increased enforcement efforts, but the impact of vandalism and accidental fibre cuts remains significant.
Adebayo also pointed out a surprising imbalance in costs. He explained that transmitting data internationally can sometimes be cheaper than moving it within Nigeria. This is largely due to the high cost of maintaining and repairing domestic fibre networks, which are frequently damaged.
The situation is further complicated by the scale of the damage. In some cases, fibre cables are cut dozens of times in a single day. For example, the Lagos-to-Kano route reportedly experiences around 40 fibre cuts daily. Such frequent disruptions make it extremely difficult for operators to maintain stable and reliable services.
In addition to fibre damage, telecom infrastructure is also being targeted by vandals. Equipment such as batteries and generators at base stations are often stolen, leaving sites unable to function properly. These losses not only affect service delivery but also increase operational expenses for telecom companies.
Adebayo warned that operators are also facing threats from non-state actors, who attack telecom sites and steal critical assets. These risks make it even harder for companies to expand and maintain their networks.
He stressed that telecom infrastructure should be treated with the same level of importance as energy facilities like oil pipelines, given its crucial role in supporting the economy. Reliable telecommunications are essential for businesses, education, banking, and everyday communication.
Despite ongoing investments in network expansion and the use of renewable energy solutions, progress is still being slowed by these structural challenges. Issues such as insecurity, vandalism, and regulatory hurdles continue to limit the growth and efficiency of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
