Manny Ita –
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised concerns over a significant increase in fibre-optic cable damage across the country. Reports indicate that incidents rose sharply from just four in December 2025 to 40 in January 2026, with a total of 58 disruptions recorded in the first seven weeks of the year.
According to the commission, the majority of these incidents have occurred in Abuja, where ongoing road construction by contractors has been identified as the primary cause. The damage has led to widespread disruptions in banking and internet services, affecting both commercial and residential users.
A spokesperson for the NCC stated, “The sharp rise in fibre-optic cuts is alarming and threatens the stability of critical digital infrastructure. We urge all construction stakeholders to exercise caution and coordinate with network providers to prevent further disruptions.”
Industry observers warned that continued negligence could undermine investor confidence and slow digital economy growth, emphasizing the urgent need for stricter enforcement of infrastructure protection regulations.
The NCC has committed to intensifying monitoring and engaging with relevant authorities to mitigate further risks, while calling on service providers to strengthen network resilience to withstand such incidents.
