By Progress Godfrey, Abuja

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has recorded more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts across the country in the first six months of 2026, largely caused by road construction, excavation and related civil works.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on the protection of fibre-optic cables during road construction and rehabilitation activities, in Abuja yesterday, Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said inadequate coordination among stakeholders was responsible for many of the incidents.

Maida said the recurring damage was disrupting essential digital services and increasing costs for telecommunications operators, businesses and citizens.
“The scale is significant. In the first six months of this year alone, over 5,000 fibre-cut incidents were recorded from road construction, excavation and related civil works,” he said.

He explained that the impact of damaged fibre cables extended beyond telecoms operators, affecting banking, government services, education, healthcare, commerce, security and emergency communications.

Maida recalled that fibre cuts in late February 2024, including those caused by road construction, led to an almost network-wide disruption for one telecommunications operator, leaving millions of subscribers unable to make calls, send messages or access the internet for several hours.

Speaking further, the NCC boss said, “Our interests are aligned; what has too often been missing is a dependable system of early coordination.”

On government’s response, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Engr Nadungu Gagare, represented by the Director of Telecoms and Postal Services, Stanley Musa, described the protection of fibre infrastructure as a shared national responsibility.

Gagare said recurring fibre cuts could undermine broadband expansion by disrupting essential services, raising operational costs and potentially discouraging investment in the digital sector.

He noted that the ministry was working with stakeholders to strengthen compliance with right-of-way regulations and improve coordination around telecommunications infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Director, Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Air Vice Marshal Effiom Enebong Ewa, stressed that damage to fibre infrastructure had implications beyond technical faults.

Ewa emphasised that damaged fibre cables could affect governance, economic productivity, public services and the lives of Nigerians, noting that fibre-optic infrastructure had been designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure.

He urged contractors, government institutions, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to comply with established protocols during construction and maintenance activities.