By Sarah Sam Adda
Rising vandalism of telecom infrastructure is crippling services across Nigeria, with operators warning the trend could derail the country’s fast-growing digital economy.
The most recent large-scale outage in June left millions offline in nine states after vandals cut a fibre-optic cable in Lekki, Lagos, disrupting businesses and professionals who depend on data services.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said many customers blame networks without realising vandalism is often the cause.
Operators report alarming figures: MTN recorded more than 6,000 fibre damage incidents in 2023, costing about $23 million in repairs, while Airtel says it suffers around 40 cases daily.
Between 2018 and 2022, the Nigerian Communications Commission logged at least 50,000 major infrastructure attacks.
Vandals also target substations, stealing batteries, generators, and diesel, often resold to power homes and small businesses.
The impact goes beyond operators. Fibre cuts frequently disconnect rural communities for days, limiting access to mobile money, banking, education, and emergency services.
With Nigeria’s digital economy contributing 18% of GDP in late 2024, experts warn prolonged disruptions could hurt trade, livelihoods, and national security.
President Bola Tinubu has since designated ICT facilities as critical national infrastructure, while National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu cautioned that sabotage poses “far-reaching implications for economic stability.”
Still, operators also struggle with community disputes, extortion, and diesel supply threats.
IHS Holdings, a major telecoms developer, says vandalism, theft, and weak infrastructure remain key risks to business in Nigeria despite government assurances.
