Road construction and other civil works caused more than 5,000 Nigeria fibre cuts in the first six months of 2026, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The commission said poor coordination between construction companies, government agencies and telecom operators caused most of the damage.
The NCC warned that continued damage to fibre networks could disrupt essential services and slow Nigeria’s digital economy.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed the figures in Abuja on Tuesday.
He spoke at a stakeholder workshop focused on protecting fibre-optic cables during road construction, rehabilitation and other civil works.
Maida called for better planning before construction begins. He said stakeholders must share information early to prevent damage.
NCC seeks action to prevent fibre cuts
According to Maida, the industry must move from repairing Nigeria fibre cuts to preventing them.
He explained that roads and fibre networks both serve as critical national infrastructure.
Therefore, expanding one should not damage the other.
“Before the first shovel entered the ground, there was often little or no coordination,” Maida said.
He identified the lack of early communication among stakeholders as a major reason for repeated cable damage.
Fibre networks now support banking, education, healthcare and government services. They also support commerce, security and emergency communications.
As a result, damage to one cable can affect millions of people.
Maida recalled the major network disruption that occurred in February 2024. Fibre cuts caused an almost nationwide service interruption for one telecom operator.
Millions of subscribers struggled to make calls, send messages or access the internet for several hours.
The incident also placed pressure on other networks as affected customers moved to alternative providers.
Maida said the incident showed how a single damaged cable could create wider economic problems.
“A damaged fibre cable is therefore not simply a cost to an operator; it is a cost to Nigerians and to the wider economy,” he said.
Government creates fibre protection committee
The Federal Government has introduced measures to address the recurring problem.
Maida said the government established the Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables.
The Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy inaugurated the committee.
Its main responsibility is to improve coordination before, during and after road construction.
The NCC workshop also sought to educate contractors, engineers and site supervisors about the risks of working near fibre infrastructure.
The government has classified fibre-optic networks as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
Maida urged telecom operators to provide accurate information about cable routes.
He also asked contractors to confirm cable locations before starting excavation.
Government agencies, he added, should ensure that stakeholders receive relevant information on time.
“Coordination must be part of every relevant project’s design and execution,” Maida said.
Fibre damage threatens digital expansion
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy also raised concerns about the impact of repeated cable damage.
Permanent Secretary Engr. Nadungu Gagare, represented by Director of Telecoms and Postal Services Stanley Musa, described fibre protection as a shared national responsibility.
Gagare warned that recurring Nigeria fibre cuts could undermine the country’s broadband expansion plans.
Cable damage disrupts essential services and raises costs for telecom operators.
It could also discourage investors from committing more funds to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The ministry has therefore been working with stakeholders to improve compliance with right-of-way regulations.
It is also seeking better coordination around telecom infrastructure.
Gagare noted that the National Economic Council had approved a memorandum on harmonising right-of-way charges.
The council also directed the ministry to develop standards for shared infrastructure.
These plans include the proposed “dig once” approach, which aims to reduce repeated excavation and infrastructure damage.
Fibre cables classified as critical infrastructure
Air Vice Marshal Effiom Enebong Ewa, Director of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, also addressed the workshop.
Ewa said damaged fibre cables could affect more than telecommunications services.
According to him, cable damage can disrupt governance, economic activity and public services.
He stressed that fibre infrastructure now carries national importance because so many services depend on it.
The government has therefore classified the infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
Ewa warned that negligence or interference that damages such infrastructure could lead to legal consequences.
He urged contractors and government institutions to follow established procedures during construction.
Telecom operators and security agencies should also maintain close cooperation, he said.
Stakeholders seek stronger coordination
The workshop brought together government ministries and agencies, telecom operators, construction companies and contractors.
Security agencies and other industry stakeholders also attended the meeting.
Participants examined the causes of recurring fibre damage across the country.
They also discussed ways to prevent future incidents.
The NCC believes better coordination could significantly reduce Nigeria fibre cuts.
Accurate cable mapping would help contractors identify underground infrastructure before excavation.
Early communication between telecom companies and construction teams could also prevent accidental damage.
The commission said protecting fibre infrastructure would help preserve reliable digital services across Nigeria.
For a country expanding broadband access and investing heavily in digital infrastructure, reducing fibre damage will remain critical to sustaining that growth.
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