Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure suffered a series of debilitating disruptions in early June 2025, impacting services across at least nine states and underscoring the vulnerability of the nation’s digital backbone. Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed a spate of incidents, primarily fibre cuts, affecting major operators like Airtel, MTN, 9Mobile, and Globacom. These disruptions led to widespread outages of voice calls, SMS, USSD services crucial for mobile banking, and mobile data, hindering both personal communication and essential business operations reliant on reliable connectivity. The geographical spread of the outages, spanning Rivers, Katsina, Lagos, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states, highlighted the systemic nature of the problem and the urgent need for robust solutions.
Analysis of the NCC data revealed that fibre cuts accounted for the majority of the reported incidents. Airtel experienced the highest number of fibre-related disruptions, with three separate incidents impacting services in Rivers, Anambra, and Imo states. These outages varied in duration, lasting from just over an hour to nearly three hours, and affected various service types. 9Mobile also faced two significant fibre cuts, one in Katsina affecting multiple local government areas and another in Lagos impacting key commercial districts. The latter incident caused the longest outage recorded during the week, lasting over four hours. MTN and Globacom each reported a single fibre cut incident, impacting services in Benue, Enugu, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers. The cumulative effect of these disruptions underscored the fragility of the nation’s telecommunications network and its susceptibility to external factors.
While fibre cuts dominated the incident reports, other factors contributed to the widespread service disruptions. MTN reported a power outage affecting Borno and Gombe states, demonstrating the sector’s dependence on a stable electricity supply. Furthermore, Globacom cited vandalism as the cause of an outage in Enugu State and the Federal Capital Territory, highlighting a more deliberate threat to telecom infrastructure. These diverse causes, ranging from accidental damage during construction to intentional sabotage and power failures, painted a complex picture of the challenges facing Nigeria’s telecom industry.
The financial implications of these recurring disruptions are substantial. Industry estimates suggest that repairs and revenue losses from damaged cables cost Nigerian telecom operators nearly $23 million in 2023 alone, with MTN and Airtel bearing the brunt of these expenses. Beyond the immediate financial burden, the disruptions also impede economic activity, hinder digital service delivery, and disrupt essential financial transactions. The repeated instances of fibre cuts, often caused by road construction activities or accidental damage, necessitate a more coordinated approach to infrastructure development and maintenance. The Globacom incident involving vandalism further emphasizes the need for enhanced security measures to protect critical telecom assets.
The NCC’s live incident portal, providing real-time updates on service disruptions, offers increased transparency and accountability within the sector. However, the frequency and scale of the reported outages point to deeper structural issues requiring comprehensive solutions. Telecom executives have called for stricter regulations and a dedicated Fibre Protection Framework to address the recurring problem of fibre cuts, particularly in Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub. They propose classifying fibre cables as critical national infrastructure, implementing real-time monitoring systems, and imposing stringent penalties for those responsible for causing damage. Furthermore, they advocate for improved coordination between construction firms and telecom operators to minimize the risk of accidental damage during roadworks.
The Nigerian government has acknowledged the severity of the issue and initiated steps to mitigate the risks. President Tinubu’s designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure criminalizes the deliberate destruction of telecom assets. The establishment of a Joint Standing Committee dedicated to protecting fibre optic cables aims to improve coordination between government agencies and telecom operators, preventing disruptions caused by construction and rehabilitation projects. The NCC has also introduced regulations requiring operators to notify consumers of major outages and provide compensation for extended service disruptions, promoting transparency and accountability within the industry. These measures, while promising, require consistent implementation and enforcement to effectively address the underlying challenges and ensure the resilience of Nigeria’s telecommunications network. The recurring disruptions underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving government agencies, telecom operators, and construction companies to safeguard the nation’s critical digital infrastructure.
