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Nigeria’s telecommunications operators have recorded over 3,200 cases of equipment theft between January and August 2025, further compounding the operational challenges slowing down broadband expansion across the country.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry also suffered 19,384 fibre cuts and more than 19,000 incidents of denial of access to telecom sites within the same period — disruptions that have caused prolonged outages, revenue losses, and higher security costs for network operators.
Speaking at a business roundtable held this week in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the scale of vandalism and theft underscores the urgent need for stronger protection of telecom infrastructure.
“These disruptions have caused prolonged outages, revenue losses, increased security costs, and delayed service restoration,” Maida said. “They demonstrate why infrastructure protection must be at the centre of our collective agenda.”
The meeting, themed “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity”, was held at the NCC Digital Economy Complex and brought together industry stakeholders, government agencies, and security officials.
Maida emphasised that safeguarding telecom infrastructure has become a national priority, especially following a Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure signed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024. The directive empowers law enforcement agencies to prosecute individuals involved in the theft or vandalism of telecom assets and assigns the NCC, working with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to ensure enforcement.
“To achieve this, we have set up a Telecommunications Industry Working Group to coordinate its operationalisation,” Maida explained. He added that the Commission had launched a nationwide awareness campaign through television, radio, social media, and community engagement platforms to educate Nigerians on the economic damage caused by vandalism.
According to him, ONSA has, in the last two years, successfully dismantled several cartels responsible for large-scale telecom equipment theft across different states. “Through mediation, enforcement, and prosecutions of vandals, the NCC and ONSA are giving practical effect to the Presidential Order in safeguarding Nigeria’s digital lifelines,” Maida said.
Despite these steps, challenges persist. The NCC identified fragmented Right-of-Way policies across states, inconsistent enforcement of protection laws, weak coordination with road and utility agencies, unreliable power supply, multiple taxation, and lengthy approval processes as factors slowing broadband investment.
Nigeria’s broadband penetration has grown significantly in recent years, but the pace of expansion has been hindered by high operational costs and widespread vandalism. Industry experts warn that such disruptions increase network downtime, inflate maintenance expenses, and discourage foreign and local investors from financing telecom infrastructure.
“The sector cannot thrive if operators continue to battle theft and vandalism at this scale,” Maida stated. “Broadband is central to Nigeria’s economic future, and protecting infrastructure is non-negotiable.”
Telecom analysts have long argued that fibre optic cables, base stations, and power installations should be treated as critical national assets, similar to oil pipelines and power grids. They say without adequate protection, Nigeria risks setbacks in achieving its National Broadband Plan target and digital economy goals.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to working with security agencies, state governments, and community leaders to strengthen surveillance and enforcement. It also encouraged citizens to report acts of vandalism or sabotage affecting telecom facilities.
As Nigeria seeks to deepen its broadband footprint and attract digital investment, stakeholders say collaboration among regulators, operators, and security agencies will be essential to safeguard the country’s communication backbone.
