By Simpson Global Media News Desk
Nigeria’s efforts to expand reliable internet access face a persistent infrastructure challenge, with more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable-cut incidents recorded during the first six months of 2026, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The incidents were associated with road construction, excavation, rehabilitation and related civil engineering activities. The regulator has called for stronger coordination among telecommunications operators, construction companies, government agencies and security authorities to protect the cables that carry data across the country.
The issue returned to focus in an analysis published on October 9, 2026, by technology infrastructure publication BTW, which examined how Nigeria could prevent construction work from damaging underground telecommunications networks.
The analysis argued that preventing cable damage requires more than expanding fibre coverage or creating committees. Construction projects need reliable information about underground infrastructure, clear approval procedures before excavation begins, and accountability for protecting and restoring damaged assets.
The NCC's figure covers reported fibre-cut incidents, not necessarily 5,000 separate customer outages. The commission's public statement did not provide a detailed breakdown of the incidents by state, operator, duration or number of customers affected.
Nevertheless, the scale of the reported damage highlights a practical challenge for a country increasingly dependent on digital banking, online education, electronic commerce, government services and mobile communications.
Why Fibre-Optic Cables Matter
Fibre-optic cables transmit information through pulses of light, allowing large volumes of digital data to travel over long distances. They form an essential part of the infrastructure connecting telecommunications networks, businesses, data centres and internet service providers.
Mobile phone users may connect wirelessly to a nearby base station, but that station often relies on fibre or another backhaul connection to carry traffic into the wider network. A damaged cable can therefore affect services beyond the immediate location of the excavation.
Depending on the network design and available alternative routes, a cable cut may cause slow internet speeds, interrupted calls, unreliable connections or a more extensive service disruption.
Businesses that depend on stable connectivity may be unable to process transactions, communicate with customers or access cloud-based systems. Educational institutions may experience interruptions to online learning, while digital service providers can face operational costs as technicians work to restore connections.
The consequences are not limited to individual subscribers. Telecommunications infrastructure supports banking, healthcare, public administration, commerce and emergency communications.
The NCC has warned that damage to this infrastructure can impose costs on both network operators and the wider economy.
In an official statement issued on August 11, the commission's Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, stressed that road development and telecommunications expansion should be planned together rather than treated as competing priorities.
His position reflects the growing importance of digital connectivity to everyday economic activity. As more services move online, the reliability of the physical infrastructure beneath roads and streets becomes increasingly significant.
Thousands of Incidents Recorded in Six Months
The NCC disclosed the figure of more than 5,000 fibre-cut incidents at a stakeholder workshop on protecting fibre-optic cables during road construction, rehabilitation and other civil works.
The meeting took place at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre within the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
The regulator linked the incidents to road construction, excavation and related activities, identifying coordination among relevant stakeholders as an important area for improvement.
The commission's statement did not establish that every incident resulted from deliberate damage. Excavation work may damage a cable when contractors lack accurate route information, when underground infrastructure is not adequately marked, or when communication between the construction team and the network operator fails.
The distinction matters because prevention requires understanding the circumstances surrounding each incident.
A cable may be damaged by an excavator during road widening, by machinery during drainage work or by digging undertaken for other utilities. Each situation may require different technical precautions, but all depend on reliable information about what lies beneath the worksite.
The October 9 BTW analysis highlighted this issue, arguing that the crucial decision often occurs before a machine begins digging. If a project has not established the location of underground cables, identified the responsible network operator and confirmed that the work can proceed safely, the risk of damage increases.
The analysis also cautioned against treating the reported total as a verified count of separate network outages. The publicly available NCC statement does not provide incident-level records sufficient to establish how many customers experienced service interruptions or how long those interruptions lasted.
A more detailed public reporting system could help regulators and network operators identify recurring locations, assess the main causes of damage and measure whether preventive measures are working.
The Coordination Problem Between Road Builders and Telecom Operators
Road construction and telecommunications expansion are both necessary for national development. The challenge is ensuring that work on one system does not unnecessarily damage the other.
Before excavation begins, construction teams need access to reliable information about existing underground infrastructure. Telecommunications operators, in turn, need a practical way to respond to route enquiries, identify cable locations and communicate any special protection requirements.
Government agencies may also need to coordinate work across different contractors and public utilities, particularly where several infrastructure projects occupy the same corridor.
Without effective coordination, contractors may begin excavation without understanding the full extent of the underground network. A cable can then be damaged even when the construction project itself is legitimate and necessary.
The NCC has encouraged stronger collaboration among road construction companies, engineers, telecommunications operators, government agencies, regulators and security authorities.
The commission has also pointed to the need for dependable arrangements covering the period before, during and after construction.
Before work starts, relevant parties should identify the underground infrastructure and determine the precautions required. During construction, workers should have access to accurate route information and a clear process for escalating uncertainty or reporting damage. After completion, any relocated or repaired infrastructure should be properly documented.
Such arrangements could help reduce avoidable damage while allowing road projects to proceed without unnecessary delays.
A Framework for Protecting Underground Infrastructure
The NCC said a Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre-Optic Cables had been established through the relevant federal ministries to develop practical coordination mechanisms.
The commission also announced that representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser had been added to the committee, reflecting the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to national security and public services.
The committee's work is intended to improve coordination among stakeholders and help establish procedures for protecting fibre-optic infrastructure during construction.
However, the existence of a committee does not by itself demonstrate that a uniform clearance procedure is operating at every road construction site.
The October 9 BTW analysis identified this implementation question as a central issue. It argued that a practical system should establish who checks the underground route, who authorises excavation, who can stop work when a cable's location is uncertain, and who is responsible for repairs or relocation.
The publication presented these measures as a proposed approach rather than claiming that a specific permit system had already been adopted nationwide.
A workable system could require contractors to document that underground infrastructure has been checked before excavation. The records could identify the location of the planned work, the route information consulted, the relevant operator contacted and the precautions agreed upon.
Where the route remains uncertain, work could be paused until the risk is properly assessed.
After the work is completed, contractors and infrastructure owners could document any cable that was exposed, protected, relocated or repaired. Updated records would help future construction teams avoid relying on outdated maps or incomplete information.
These procedures would give agencies a clearer way to determine whether the necessary checks were carried out and whether any damage was properly reported and addressed.
Telecommunications Infrastructure and National Security
Nigeria has designated telecommunications systems, cables and ducts as Critical National Information Infrastructure under a presidential order issued in June 2024.
The designation recognises the importance of protecting systems that support essential communications and digital services.
The NCC said the inclusion of the Office of the National Security Adviser in the fibre-protection committee reflected the security implications of safeguarding telecommunications infrastructure.
Protecting such infrastructure is important because widespread communications disruptions can affect public services, commercial transactions and the ability of organisations to coordinate their activities.
However, the designation should not be interpreted to mean that every cable cut is deliberate sabotage or a national security incident. The NCC's reported figures specifically associate the incidents under discussion with road construction, excavation and related civil works.
The response must therefore combine appropriate protection of critical infrastructure with practical measures to prevent accidental damage.
Where evidence indicates deliberate vandalism or another criminal offence, the relevant authorities can investigate under applicable laws. Where damage results from inadequate planning or a failure to follow agreed procedures, the appropriate response may also include contractual, regulatory or remedial measures.
Clear rules would help distinguish among these circumstances and ensure that responsibility is established on the basis of evidence.
The Economic Cost of Service Disruptions
Fibre damage can impose costs on several parties at once.
Telecommunications operators may need to dispatch repair teams, replace damaged equipment or cable sections, and reroute traffic where alternative connections are available. Customers may experience interrupted service, while businesses can lose time and revenue when digital systems become unavailable.
The economic effect depends on the location of the damage, the importance of the affected route, the availability of backup infrastructure and the duration of the disruption.
The NCC recalled a major incident in February 2024 in which fibre cuts contributed to an almost network-wide disruption for one telecommunications operator, affecting millions of users for several hours and placing additional pressure on other networks.
That historical example illustrates how damage at a critical point can have consequences beyond the immediate construction site.
It does not mean that every fibre-cut incident produces a nationwide outage. Many incidents may affect a more limited area, and network redundancy can sometimes reduce the impact.
Nevertheless, prevention can be less disruptive than repairing a cable after it has been severed. Better coordination can help avoid restoration costs, reduce downtime and protect the investments made by both infrastructure owners and public authorities.
A transparent system for recording incidents and associated costs would also help stakeholders understand which preventive measures offer the greatest benefits.
Expanding Broadband Requires More Than Laying New Cables
Nigeria's digital development depends on expanding connectivity while keeping existing infrastructure reliable.
Building additional fibre routes can improve network reach and capacity, but those investments must be protected throughout their operational life. Every new route may eventually cross a road construction site, drainage project or other excavation corridor.
The BTW analysis published on October 9 noted that network expansion makes accurate infrastructure records and construction-clearance procedures increasingly important.
A larger network will not automatically solve the problem if contractors cannot identify the cables already in the ground or determine who is responsible for approving work near them.
Infrastructure planning should therefore consider both the installation of new routes and the long-term management of existing assets.
Shared ducts and coordinated utility corridors may offer opportunities to reduce repeated excavation, although their effectiveness depends on access arrangements, capacity, pricing and maintenance responsibilities.
The NCC has previously discussed the Dig Once approach, which seeks to improve coordination when installing infrastructure so that different operators can make more efficient use of available routes and ducts.
Such measures could reduce duplicated work, but they do not eliminate the need to maintain accurate records or establish safe procedures for excavation.
What Contractors and Government Agencies Can Do
Preventing fibre damage requires action from all parties involved in infrastructure development.
Road agencies and contractors can begin by incorporating underground utility checks into project planning rather than treating them as a last-minute exercise. Tender documents and work plans can specify how route information must be obtained, which operators must be consulted and how work should proceed when the location of a cable is uncertain.
Telecommunications operators can support this process by maintaining accurate records and providing practical channels for construction teams to request information.
Government agencies can improve coordination by clarifying responsibilities and ensuring that relevant departments share information before major works begin.
Regulators can help establish common reporting procedures and monitor whether stakeholders are meeting agreed requirements. They can also publish information that allows the public and industry to assess whether cable damage is becoming less frequent.
Security agencies may support the protection of infrastructure where deliberate damage or other criminal activity is suspected, while investigations should distinguish those cases from accidental damage during legitimate construction work.
The objective is not to stop road development. It is to ensure that road improvements and digital connectivity can advance together without avoidable disruption.
The Need for Public Accountability
A major challenge in assessing progress is the limited detail available in the published national incident total.
The NCC has reported more than 5,000 fibre-cut incidents during the first half of 2026, but the public statement does not provide a complete incident-by-incident dataset showing locations, causes, affected operators, restoration times or customer impacts.
Without such information, it is difficult to determine which locations experience repeated damage, whether particular types of construction pose greater risks or how much disruption is avoided after preventive measures are introduced.
A consistent reporting framework could allow stakeholders to compare incidents over time while protecting commercially sensitive information where necessary.
Useful indicators might include the number of reported cuts, the proportion linked to roadworks, average restoration times, the number of construction projects that completed utility checks and the share of incidents followed by documented corrective action.
Publishing these indicators would not prevent damage on its own, but it would give government agencies and operators a clearer basis for improving their procedures.
It would also help the public distinguish between announcements of new coordination measures and evidence that those measures are producing results.
What Happens Next?
The NCC's stated objective is to institutionalise better coordination and reduce damage to telecommunications infrastructure during road construction and excavation.
The standing committee and its expanded membership provide a mechanism for bringing together the agencies and operators needed to develop practical arrangements.
The next important developments will be the details of any protection framework, the procedures adopted for individual construction projects and the way compliance is monitored.
The October 9 analysis has added to the discussion by focusing attention on the operational questions that must be answered before an excavator reaches a buried cable.
It remains important to distinguish proposed procedures from rules that have been formally adopted and implemented. Publicly available material reviewed for this report does not establish that a single, nationwide excavation-clearance process is already in force at every worksite.
Further official announcements will be needed to clarify the final arrangements, responsibilities and implementation timetable.
Protecting the Foundations of Nigeria's Digital Economy
Nigeria's fibre-optic network is an essential part of the infrastructure supporting communication, commerce and public services. The more the economy relies on digital systems, the more important it becomes to protect the physical connections that make those systems work.
The reported 5,000-plus fibre-cut incidents in the first half of 2026 demonstrate the scale of the challenge identified by the telecommunications regulator, although the figure should not be mistaken for an equivalent number of separate customer outages.
Preventing future damage will require accurate infrastructure records, coordination before excavation, clear accountability and effective follow-up after construction.
Roads and telecommunications networks serve different purposes, but both are necessary for national development. Better planning can help ensure that building one does not undermine the other.
The key test for the NCC and its partners will be whether the proposed coordination measures translate into fewer cable-cut incidents, faster resolution when damage occurs and more reliable connectivity for Nigerians.
Simpson Global Media will continue to monitor developments in Nigeria's telecommunications infrastructure and digital technology sector.
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