The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported that road construction and civil engineering projects led to more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable damages across Nigeria during the first half of 2026. Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida stated that these outages stem from a lack of coordination between contractors, government agencies, and telecom firms.
Speaking at a workshop in Abuja, Maida highlighted the necessity of shifting from reactive repairs to proactive prevention. He noted that fibre networks are foundational for banking, education, and healthcare. When a cable is severed, it does not just impact the telecom operator; it disrupts the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians and stresses the capacity of other network providers.
To mitigate this, the Federal Government established a Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables to ensure better planning and information sharing. This infrastructure is officially designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure, making any interference or negligence a potential legal offense. Air Vice Marshal Effiom Enebong Ewa of the Office of the National Security Adviser reiterated that those who jeopardize these assets will be held accountable under Nigerian law.
Engr. Nadungu Gagare, representing the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, stressed that the government is working to standardize right-of-way charges and implement a ‘dig once’ strategy to minimize future disruptions. The workshop concluded by urging all stakeholders to prioritize site verification and communication to preserve the integrity of the national digital ecosystem.
