The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have expressed concerns over the sudden rise of fibre optic cuts and damages across the country.
The two bodies said the development comes at high costs not only for the telecommunications industry, but for Nigeria’s critical national assets and infrastructures.
According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in Abuja, Babawale Afolabi, the NCC and NSCDC warned construction companies and concerned agencies to desist from willful cuts or damage to telecommunications infrastructures forthwith.
Babawale said, “The rising incidents of avoidable fibre cuts resulting from negligence will no longer be excused, noting that offenders risk prosecution as the act constitutes a crime.”
He noted that fibre optic cables are critical national assets that power Nigeria’s digital economy, enable seamless communication, support emergency services, connect businesses, and facilitate government operations.
Babawale maintained that the destruction of cables, whether through negligence, lack of coordination, or willful actions, poses a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and public safety.
“Under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024, telecommunication fibre infrastructure is classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure. Consequently, any damage resulting from unauthorized digging, construction activities, or failure to collaborate with relevant authorities to prevent damage during construction constitutes a criminal offence,” he said.
Babawale warned that individuals, construction companies, or government contractors who damage fibre optic infrastructure would be made to face prosecution and applicable sanctions as provided under existing laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
He said NCC and NSCDC would take action on “future damage to fibre optic infrastructure caused by excavation, road construction, or any civil engineering activity conducted without due consultation or collaboration with network operators and relevant regulators”, asserting that there would be strict legal consequences henceforth.
He called on federal, state and local government agencies; road construction companies; utility service providers; and private developers to ensure full compliance by conducting pre‑construction verification of fibre routes and collaborate with the NCC, telecom operators and NSCDC before and during construction; adhering to approved guidelines for excavation and right‑of‑way management; and reporting any accidental damage immediately to enable rapid response and mitigation.
He said the public is encouraged to report any act of fibre-optic infrastructure sabotage or damage to the nearest NSCDC Office or email to protect@ncc.gov.ng, cipu@nscdc.gov.ng, or call 622 toll-free.
