A coordinated wave of vandalism and theft against Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure between May and July 2025 has propelled the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to demand urgent government and security intervention.
With critical components such as fibre‑optic cables, power systems and generators systematically targeted, operators warn of a looming nationwide network collapse, jeopardising banking, healthcare, emergency services, media and national security.
A Surge of Sabotage: May–July 2025
Between May and July 2025, at least 4,800 fibre‑optic cuts were recorded nationwide, averaging 1,600 monthly incidents – a figure consistent with the regulator’s report of 1,600 fibre cuts per month in 2023.
Incidents spanned Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos and the FCT, disrupting services for millions and leading to prolonged network blackouts and crippling congestion.
“Since the Federal Government’s decisive interventions earlier this year to support industry sustainability, our members have made unprecedented investments in network optimisation and capacity upgrades. We are working tirelessly to improve service quality nationwide, but these acts of sabotage are setting us back.”
– Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON Chairman
Financial Toll: Billions Lost Annually
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has estimated annual losses of at least ₦11 billion to vandalism, fibre cuts and equipment theft.
Industry sources further reveal repair and relocation costs totalling ₦14.6 billion in 2023 alone, with MTN Nigeria spending over ₦11 billion to reroute 2,500 km of vulnerable cables.
In Lagos, fibre‑cut incidents in 2024 incurred ₦5 billion in losses, concentrated in commercial hubs such as Ikeja, Lekki and Victoria Island.
Critical Infrastructure Under Siege
Telecom assets—designated as Critical National Infrastructure under Gazette No. 133, Vol. 108 (17 March 2021)—include:
- Fibre‑optic cables and feeder cables
- Rectifiers, batteries and diesel generators
- Solar panels powering remote sites
ALTON emphasises that the theft of these “backbone” components not only disrupts voice and data but also cripples banking, e‑learning, telemedicine, emergency response and national security platforms.
“When these components are stolen or vandalised, it is not only phone calls and data that are affected. Our banking systems, emergency services, healthcare, education, and national security platforms are all compromised.”
– ALTON statement
The Anatomy of Vandalism: From Sites to Grey Markets
Investigations reveal an organised black market for stolen telecom equipment:
- Batteries sold for home and office inverters
- Solar panels stripped from towers and resold to households
- Diesel fuel siphoned from base stations and peddled on the grey market
By purchasing these items, unsuspecting citizens inadvertently finance criminal networks and perpetuate the cycle of sabotage.
Historical Context and Comparative Analysis
Vandalism is not new in Nigeria’s telecom sector. Between 2018 and 2023, the NCC recorded over 50,000 major destruction cases, with vandalism accounting for 30 per cent of all network outages.
Fibre‑cut incidents surged from ~1,200 monthly in 2019 to 1,600 monthly in 2023, reflecting a decade‑long escalation.
Globally, emerging markets similarly face infrastructure attacks; in India, for instance, telecom operators report an average of 2,000 vandalism incidents per quarter in rural zones, underscoring the need for robust protection frameworks.
Compounding Factors: Civil Works and Fibre Cuts
Beyond deliberate sabotage, uncoordinated road and civil projects routinely sever underground cables, causing:
- Mass service outages
- Unquantified financial losses
- Regulatory disputes over liability and compensation
The absence of a centralised permit system or wayleave coordination exacerbates these accidental disruptions.
“These recurring incidents stem from poor planning, lack of coordination, and overlapping regulatory mandates. With no centralised framework, government agencies, construction firms, and telecom operators work independently, leading to repeated damages without accountability.”
– Industry source, Lagos telecom summit
Legal and Security Imperatives
Under the Cybercrimes Act and CNII Executive Order, vandalism and illegal possession of telecom assets are criminal offences carrying severe penalties. ALTON has called on:
- Office of the National Security Adviser
- Inspector General of Police
- Director General, DSS
- Commandant General, NSCDC
to deploy targeted security measures—such as patrols, surveillance drones and rapid‑response units—to protect critical sites.
The NCC’s new portal (protect@ncc.gov.ng; dial 622) enables citizens to report vandalism or suspicious activities.
Urgent Call to Action: A National Security Crisis
ALTON warns that continued neglect will culminate in a catastrophic collapse of Nigeria’s communications network.
The association urges a whole‑of‑society response, involving security agencies, federal and state governments, regulators, media, civil society and the public.
“This is a desperate and urgent moment. The industry cannot handle this crisis alone. We need coordinated national action from security agencies, the government at all levels, regulators, the media, civil society, and the public. Our economic stability, national security, and digital future depend on it.”
– ALTON closing statement
