The initiative was discussed during a recent meeting convened by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) and the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), where industry stakeholders explored strategies to safeguard critical ICT assets across the country.
During the conference held in Lagos, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued a stark warning that major mobile operators are experiencing over 1,100 fibre-optic cable cuts every week. NCC’s executive vice chairman, Aminu Maida, represented by director of technical standards and network integrity Edoyemi Ogoh, explained that such damage severely hampers service reliability and poses a threat to national security. The NCC is responding by implementing stricter standards for fibre deployment and tower construction, launching nationwide awareness campaigns, and collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser to integrate security measures into broader frameworks.
Maida emphasised that vandalism’s impact extends beyond operators, affecting ordinary Nigerians who rely on banking, healthcare, and emergency services, which can fail due to infrastructure damage. ALTON chairman Gbenga Adebayo expressed concern over the industry’s lax security measures, criticising operators for neglecting basic precautions such as perimeter fencing and CCTV surveillance. He also highlighted the thriving black market for stolen telecom components, which is often facilitated by insider cooperation, and called for tougher prosecutions to deter theft.
NITRA chairman Chike Onwuegbuchi proposed the establishment of the Telecom Infrastructure Protection Trust Fund, which would finance preventative security measures. He stressed that community education about the high costs of vandalism is vital for preserving connectivity and ensuring the resilience of critical services. The industry’s collective efforts aim to protect Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure from escalating threats and secure the nation’s digital future.
