Telecom operators have raised the alarm over rising attacks on their infrastructure, warning that states like Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Edo, Kogi, FCT, Kaduna, Niger, Osun, Kwara, and Abuja are fast becoming hotspots for vandalism.

The operators, under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said the growing wave of vandalism and theft is threatening their ability to deliver stable network services, despite the classification of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (CNII).

CNII assets are meant to be protected by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and include power plants, oil pipelines, roads, water systems, hospitals, and now telecom infrastructure. In countries like the United States, China, and India, telecom vandalism carries stiff penalties, a model Nigeria is seeking to replicate. In Nigeria, telecom infrastructure vandals face up to 10 years in jail.

However, this has failed to deter vandals. “Between May and July 2025, multiple incidents of vandalism were recorded across cell sites in Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and many other states.

“These acts of sabotage have significantly disrupted network services, causing widespread connectivity blackouts, leading to degradation of services and severely impacting millions of subscribers,” the operators said in a communique.

According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission’s outage portal, telcos including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile have recorded 656 major outages so far in 2025, with nearly 70 percent caused by vandalism.

Operators say vital components such as fibre optic cables, power cables, rectifiers, batteries, diesel generators, and solar panels are routinely stolen or destroyed from active network sites.

In 2023, the industry lost an estimated $23 million to fibre cuts, primarily from vandalism and construction activity. These cuts resulted in widespread service outages, underscoring the critical role of fibre in powering connectivity.

As of 2023, Nigeria had deployed 78,676 kilometres of fibre optic cable, with most concentrated in urban areas like Lagos (7,864.60km), Edo (4,892.71km), FCT (4,472.03km), Ogun (4,189.18km), and Niger (3,681.66km).

“These are not mere materials, but they are the backbone of our digital economy, security systems, and national communications grid,” the operators emphasised.

The telcos also decried a growing black market for stolen telecom equipment, warning the public against buying items like power cables, rectifiers, batteries, and diesel fuel from unverified sources.

“If you buy stolen telecom equipment, you are not just complicit, you are part of the crime,” ALTON said.

According to operators, they have stepped up investments in network infrastructure across the country to improve network quality, but persistent attacks may derail these efforts. “We are working around the clock to improve the quality of service nationwide, and we cannot afford these setbacks,” telcos said

The operators further appealed to Nigerians to join their fight against the vandalism of telecom infrastructure.

“These assets serve us all; they enable our banking systems, security infrastructure, emergency response, education, health services, and the very platforms that power daily communication. An attack on telecom infrastructure is an attack on our economy and our security,” they added. (BusinessDay)