NCC Reports 5,000 Fibre Optic Cable Cuts in Nigeria in First Half of 2026

The Nigerian Communications Commission has revealed that more than 5,000 fibre optic cable cuts occurred across Nigeria during the first half of 2026, primarily caused by road construction and other civil engineering activities. The commission attributed the high number of incidents to inadequate coordination among construction firms, government agencies, and telecommunications providers before excavation work begins.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida announced the figures on Tuesday in Abuja during a Stakeholder Workshop on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables. He warned that the ongoing damage to fibre infrastructure threatens the nation's digital economy and called for a shift from reactive repairs to preventive planning.

"Before the first shovel hit the ground, there was frequently minimal or no coordination," Maida stated, identifying the lack of early engagement among stakeholders as a major factor behind the incidents. He emphasized that both roads and fibre networks are essential for national development, and the growth of one should not come at the expense of the other.

Maida highlighted the broad impact of fibre damage, noting that fibre infrastructure now...