Vandalism of telecom infrastructure in Nigeria has seen a dramatic surge since May 2025, with incidents increasing from an average of two to five per day, according to data compiled by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). This sharp rise, resulting in 445 cases over 88 days, has led to significant network disruptions, affecting voice calls, internet access, SMS, and USSD services across all major mobile network operators.
Gbenga Adebayo, President of ALTON, spoke to TechCabal about the escalating nature of the attacks. “In many instances, the vandals now confront site engineers directly, demanding ransom before releasing stolen cables,” Adebayo noted, emphasizing the growing threat to telecom operations.
The states most affected by these incidents include Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kaduna, Osun, and Kwara. The highest levels of vandalism have been recorded in Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Edo, Kwara, and Kaduna.
The peak of the disruption occurred in May 2025, with 88 network outages attributed to fibre cuts, equipment theft, and power failures. While the numbers dropped to 71 in June and 27 in July, the threat remains persistent.
Telecom operators in Nigeria face additional challenges, beyond the theft and vandalism of assets like copper cables and diesel. In several cases, local communities demand compensation before allowing repairs to take place, further delaying service restoration and increasing operational costs.
In response, the Nigerian government issued the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order in June, recognizing telecommunications as critical infrastructure and criminalizing its deliberate damage. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is leading the implementation of the CNII framework, in collaboration with security agencies: the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) coordinates the overall strategy; the Inspector General of Police oversees enforcement; the Department of State Services (DSS) provides intelligence on emerging threats; and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is tasked with safeguarding telecom infrastructure on the ground.
However, industry stakeholders believe the implementation has been inadequate. Despite the increasing cases of vandalism, no arrests or prosecutions have been reported. The NCC has declined to comment on this issue.
“We urge every Nigerian to join us in the fight against the vandalization of telecom infrastructure,” said Adebayo. “These assets power essential services such as banks, emergency services, education, healthcare, security systems, and daily communication. Damaging them is an attack on our economy and national stability.”
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