More than 5,000 fibre-optic cables were damaged across Nigeria in the first six months of 2026, largely due to road construction, excavation and other civil works.

The Nigerian Communications Commission disclosed the figures at a stakeholder workshop in Abuja.

Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida said the scale of the damage highlighted the cost of poor coordination among telecommunications operators, construction companies and government agencies before excavation begins.

He noted that a damaged fibre cable is not just a loss to operators but a cost to Nigerians and the wider economy.

Maida explained that fibre infrastructure supports banking, government services, education, healthcare, commerce, security and emergency communications. When cables are cut, the disruption can affect millions of people and essential services beyond the telecom sector.

He recalled that in the past, fibre cuts linked to road works had caused near network-wide outages for major operators, leaving subscribers unable to make calls or access the internet for hours. The Commission is calling for better planning and information sharing before construction starts.

The NCC has been working with relevant ministries to improve coordination, including the establishment of a standing committee on the protection of fibre-optic cables. Officials stressed the need for stronger collaboration so that the expansion of roads does not come at the expense of the country’s digital infrastructure.

Photo credit: The Cable