Fibre Cable Damage Now a Criminal Offence As NCC, NSCDC Warn Construction Firms

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have warned that construction firms, contractors, and individuals responsible for damaging fibre optic cables during road construction and other civil works will face prosecution.

The warning was contained in a joint statement issued by both agencies on Wednesday night.

According to the statement, avoidable fibre damage arising from negligence, poor coordination, or unauthorised excavation now constitutes a criminal offence under existing laws, with enforcement set to be intensified nationwide.

The move comes amid a surge in fibre cuts that have contributed to persistent network disruptions and poor service quality for telecom subscribers across Nigeria.

What the agencies are saying

The NCC and NSCDC described fibre optic cables as critical national assets that underpin Nigeria’s digital economy, power communication networks, support emergency services, connect businesses, and enable government operations.

They warned that damage to telecom infrastructure poses a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and public safety, particularly as Nigeria becomes increasingly dependent on digital connectivity for commerce and public services.

The agencies noted that telecom fibre infrastructure is now formally protected under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024.

“Consequently, any damage resulting from unauthorised digging, construction activities, or failure to collaborate with relevant authorities to prevent damage during construction constitutes a criminal offence,” the statement said.

They added that offenders—including construction companies, government contractors, and individuals—will be prosecuted and sanctioned under applicable laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

“Future damage to fibre optic infrastructure caused by excavation, road construction, or any civil engineering activity conducted without due consultation or collaboration with network operators and relevant regulators will attract strict legal consequences,” the agencies warned.

Coordination before excavation

The NCC and NSCDC urged federal, state, and local government agencies, road construction companies, utility service providers, and private developers to strictly comply with established procedures before commencing construction projects.

They advised stakeholders to conduct pre-construction verification of fibre routes, collaborate with the NCC, telecom operators, and the NSCDC before and during construction, and adhere to approved excavation and right-of-way guidelines.

Contractors were also urged to promptly report any accidental fibre damage to enable swift response and mitigation, rather than attempting unauthorised repairs.

Backstory

Last year, the NCC raised alarm over the rising damage to telecommunications infrastructure nationwide, disclosing that MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, and other operators were recording an average of 1,100 fibre cuts weekly.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said persistent infrastructure damage had become a major obstacle to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

“Our fibre networks, towers, and data centres are the digital lifelines of the Nigerian economy. Any disruption to them has far-reaching consequences,” he said.

What you should know

In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed an official gazette designating telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure, making its wilful destruction a criminal offence.

According to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024 is a significant step toward safeguarding investments in Nigeria’s ICT sector.

However, despite the gazette, fibre cuts continue to rise daily, highlighting persistent enforcement gaps.