The persistent issue of fibre cuts in Lagos State has cost telecom operators an estimated ₦5 billion in 2024 alone, raising concerns about the protection of Nigeria’s critical digital infrastructure.
Speaking at the 7th edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) in Lagos on Friday, Senior Manager at Broadbased Communications, Jude Ighomena, highlighted the severity of the problem. He revealed that over 2,500 fibre cuts were recorded in the state this year, causing widespread service disruptions.
According to Ighomena, Lagos’ busiest commercial districts—Ikeja, Lekki, and Victoria Island—are the most affected, with road construction and private developments frequently damaging underground fibre cables. Meanwhile, Alimosho and the Mainland areas have become hotspots for fibre cable theft and vandalism.
“These recurring incidents stem from poor planning, lack of coordination, and overlapping regulatory mandates,” he explained. “With no centralised framework, government agencies, construction firms, and telecom operators work independently, leading to repeated damages without accountability.”
Beyond financial losses, these disruptions affect businesses, banking services, emergency response systems, and general communication networks, causing frustration for millions of telecom users. The instability also raises security concerns, as unreliable connectivity can hinder law enforcement and critical online services.
To tackle the crisis, Ighomena urged stricter policy enforcement and a more robust redress mechanism. While the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has guidelines recognizing telecom infrastructure as critical, he argued that more action is needed to prevent recurring damages.
“The time to act is now! Continuous disruptions threaten financial stability, business operations, and public trust,” he warned.
During a panel discussion at the event, industry leaders called for a collaborative effort between government agencies, regulators, and private-sector stakeholders to protect telecom infrastructure.
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Key proposals included:
A Fibre Protection Framework to centralize regulations and improve coordination.
Real-time monitoring systems to detect and prevent damage.
Strict penalties and legal compensation for those responsible for fibre cuts.
Increased public awareness to deter vandalism and theft.
Wale Owoeye, CEO of Cedarview Communications Ltd., emphasized the importance of protecting Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), highlighting its role in telemedicine, e-governance, business operations, security, and aviation.
Similarly, Segun Okuneye, Divisional CEO of IxPN, suggested that telecom operators should adopt self-regulation strategies alongside government policies to ensure better industry alignment.
Dr. Motunrayo Abimbola, Chief Administration and Human Resource Officer at LASIMRA, noted that some fibre cuts appear deliberate and sophisticated, suggesting they may be carried out for illicit data access. She called for community sensitization and stricter enforcement against cable vandals.
Omobayo Azeez, Convener of PIAFo, stressed the importance of implementing President Bola Tinubu’s recent Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order, which aims to enhance the protection of Nigeria’s digital economy. However, he warned that without proactive enforcement, fibre cuts and their devastating consequences would persist.
As Nigeria continues to expand its digital economy, industry leaders agree that urgent steps must be taken to protect telecom infrastructure, ensuring reliable connectivity for businesses, financial services, and millions of telecom users.