NCC, ONSA Unveil Guidelines to Protect Nigeria’s Fibre-Optic Infrastructure
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has developed standard operating guidelines aimed at protecting Nigeria’s critical telecommunications fibre-optic infrastructure from damage caused by construction activities and other forms of negligence.
The initiative is designed to address the growing threat posed by frequent fibre-optic cable cuts, which continue to disrupt telecommunications services, undermine digital connectivity and impose significant costs on network operators and the wider economy.
Speaking at a one-day workshop on the protection of telecommunications infrastructure in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed that Nigeria recorded more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts in the first half of 2026 alone.
He attributed many of the disruptions to uncoordinated construction activities, including road projects, building works and other excavation activities carried out without adequate knowledge of underground telecommunications infrastructure.
According to Maida, safeguarding fibre-optic networks has become a national priority as Nigeria continues to expand its digital economy and increase access to broadband services.
Tackling Right-of-Way Challenges
Another major issue highlighted at the workshop was the persistent challenge surrounding Right of Way (RoW) approvals and charges.
Telecommunications operators have continued to face difficulties in securing approvals and accessing infrastructure corridors, with high administrative fees and prolonged approval processes in some states slowing the expansion of broadband networks.
The NCC has been engaging state governments and other sub-national authorities in an effort to address these challenges and create a more efficient environment for telecommunications infrastructure deployment.
The Commission noted that resolving RoW bottlenecks is particularly important for accelerating rural broadband expansion, 4G and 5G deployment, and the Federal Government’s Project 774 connectivity initiative.
The absence of comprehensive and unified mapping of underground infrastructure has also emerged as a major concern. Construction companies and contractors may unknowingly excavate areas containing fibre-optic cables, resulting in service disruptions and costly repairs.
Security Agencies, Works Ministry Join Effort
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the telecommunications, security and infrastructure sectors to develop practical measures for preventing damage to critical digital infrastructure.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, addressed the need for greater coordination between telecommunications operators and construction authorities, particularly during road and other major infrastructure projects.
The Director of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection at ONSA, Air Vice Marshal Enebong Effiom, focused on the national security implications of damage to telecommunications infrastructure, stressing the importance of protecting critical assets that support Nigeria’s economy, security and public services.
The NCC’s Director of Technical Standards, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, provided technical perspectives on infrastructure protection, while the Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in charge of National Assets and Infrastructure, Dr. Benito Eze, highlighted the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
Damaging Telecom Infrastructure to Attract Legal Consequences
Under the emerging regulatory framework, deliberate or negligent damage to telecommunications infrastructure can attract legal consequences, as the government moves to strengthen protection for critical national assets.
The NCC, ONSA, NSCDC, the Federal Ministry of Works, their state-level counterparts and other relevant stakeholders are expected to work together to monitor construction corridors and ensure compliance with approved procedures.
The broader objective is to create greater coordination between physical infrastructure development and digital infrastructure protection.
As Nigeria expands its roads, buildings and other public infrastructure, authorities say such projects must be implemented without compromising the fibre-optic networks that carry the country’s communications and digital services.
The initiative therefore seeks to establish a more coordinated approach in which building roads that physically connect Nigerians goes hand in hand with protecting the fibre-optic networks that keep them digitally connected.
With digital connectivity increasingly central to commerce, education, healthcare, security and government services, stakeholders say protecting Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure is no longer solely an industry responsibility but a shared national obligation.
NCC, ONSA Unveil Guidelines to Protect Nigeria’s Fibre-Optic Infrastructure