Abuja — The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says there have been 19,384 fibre optic cable cuts between January and August 2025, along with 3,241 cases of equipment theft and more than 19,000 denials of access to telecom sites. Nigeria’s efforts to expand broadband, increase Internet access, and strengthen digital infrastructure.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Key Challenges

• Frequent vandalism and sabotage: The number of fibre cuts and thefts show the telecom infrastructure is under constant threat.

• Access denial to telecom sites: Operators are sometimes blocked from maintaining or repairing sites, which delays fixing network faults.

• High cost & regulatory obstacles: Right-of-Way fees set by states, costly permits, and inconsistent policies make it harder to build or maintain fibre infrastructure.

NCC’s Call to Action

Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, has urged state governors to waive or significantly reduce the Right-of-Way (RoW) fees, now benchmarked at ₦145 per linear meter, calling them a major obstacle to broadband rollout.

He also commended 11 states that have already removed RoW fees completely and noted that 17 others are charging the standard ₦145 per meter.

Why This Matters

• Fibre optic cables are the backbone of high-speed Internet. Cuts or damage lead to service disruptions that affect everything from banking and hospitals to schools and emergency services.

• High RoW costs discourage telecom firms from investing in broadband expansion, especially in underserved or rural areas, slowing down digital inclusion.

• Removing or lowering these fees could boost private investment. The NCC says operators have pledged over $1 billion in new broadband investments in response to states dropping or reducing RoW charges.

Next Steps

• NCC wants uniform RoW policies across all states so telecom operators have clarity and can plan accordingly.

• Strengthening and enforcing the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order, which classifies telecom infrastructure as critical and gives legal force for protection.

• Increasing collaboration between federal and state governments, security agencies, and telecom companies to monitor, prevent, and respond to vandalism and infrastructure damage.

Outlook

If states adopt NCC’s recommendations, experts believe broadband coverage could grow more quickly, service reliability could improve, and Nigeria’s digital economy could receive a major boost. On the other hand, continued neglect of infrastructure protection and onerous fees may stall progress and leave many Nigerians without stable or reliable connectivity.