The Nigerian telecom industry is facing a significant challenge from the increasing number of fibre optic cable cuts, which poses a great threat to the national economy. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts were recorded in the first six months of 2026, with a total of 5,934 incidents referenced, averaging 33 cuts per day. This trend is concerning, as it disrupts communication, frustrates banking transactions, and compromises national security.
The impact of these fibre cuts is far-reaching, affecting not only telecom services but also banking transactions, national security, and the overall economy. In 2025, MTN, Nigeria's largest operator, reported 5,478 cuts in the first seven months and over 9,000 throughout the year. A recent fibre cut on the Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN) in Abuja Municipal Area Council resulted in degraded data and internet services in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), causing slow speeds, intermittent connections, and outright dropouts.
Industry stakeholders have identified road construction, excavation, and civil works as the primary causes of fibre cuts, accounting for 60 percent or more of the damage. Vandalism and theft make up much of the rest. Contractors often dig without accurate maps of underground routes, and utility crews work without coordination, leading to accidental damage to fibre cables. Flashpoints for fibre cuts include parts of the Southeast and Southsouth, Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Kano, and Kaduna, areas with high enterprise traffic, banking systems, and fintech volume.
The economic cost of fibre cuts is substantial, with industry estimates putting the combined annual bill for fibre damage at ₦27 billion to ₦35 billion. This includes repairs, lost revenue, and operational disruption. MTN alone has budgeted billions for fibre maintenance and relocation, funds that could otherwise be invested in new coverage and capacity. The telecoms sector contributes approximately 9.7 percent of Nigeria's real gross domestic product (GDP) and processes trillions of naira in digital payments daily.
The impact of fibre cuts on businesses and individuals is significant, causing delayed service delivery, broken customer channels, and lost sales. Small businesses lose sales when card payments fail, while remote workers and students lose hours. Hospitals and emergency services face communication gaps, highlighting the critical importance of reliable connectivity in modern Nigeria. With over 150 million internet subscriptions and rising data consumption, reliable connectivity has become a basic economic infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders and regulators have called for better coordination to mitigate fibre cuts. Telecom operators now share route maps with relevant agencies, and a presidential order has designated telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, providing stronger legal protection. Committees involving the ministries of works and communications, the NCC, and security agencies are working to establish practical rules to prevent accidental damage to fibre cables.
Despite these efforts, the problem persists, and the industry continues to invest heavily in repairs and maintenance. MTN has invested over ₦1.6 trillion in network expansion and modernization since 2025, part of a broader industry push past ₦2 trillion. However, without tighter protection of fibre routes, outages will continue, repair bills will keep rising, and the reliability that businesses and citizens depend on will remain under threat.
Key points
- The Nigerian telecom industry recorded 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts in the first six months of 2026.
- Fibre cuts have significant economic costs, estimated at ₦27 billion to ₦35 billion annually.
- Industry stakeholders are calling for better coordination and protection of fibre infrastructure to mitigate the problem.
