According to government data, telecommunications companies in Nigeria saw a substantial increase in fibre optic cable breakage in January 2026, with occurrences rising by 900 percent compared to December 2025.

According to a report from the Nigerian Communications Commission, fibre cuts increased from 4 in December 2025 to 40 in January 2026, reflecting one of the largest month-to-month rises in recent years.

The increase happened despite the Federal Government's 2024 classification of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, a regulation designed to protect network assets from sabotage and accidental destruction.

According to the NCC incident report, the rise in fibre cuts lasted throughout February.

From February 1 to 17, 18 more instances were reported, bringing the total to 58 disruptions in the first seven weeks of 2026.

According to the January and February data, Abuja accounted for over 90% of the events, with smaller concentrations reported in Lagos, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, and Abia states.

Concerned about the January surge, the NCC and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps issued a joint statement earlier this month, warning that construction firms, contractors, and individuals responsible for damaging fibre optic cables during roadworks or other civil projects would face prosecution.

The agencies emphasized that avoidable fibre damage caused by negligence, poor coordination, or unauthorised excavation is now a criminal offence under existing laws, and vowed to intensify enforcement nationwide.

They cautioned that the destruction of telecommunications infrastructure poses a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and public safety, particularly as Nigeria grows increasingly dependent on digital connectivity for commerce and public services.

The agencies stated 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 unauthorized digging, construction activities, or failure to collaborate with relevant authorities to prevent damage during construction constitutes a criminal offence,” the statement read in part.

They also stated that offenders, including construction firms, government contractors, and individuals, will face prosecution and sanctions under existing laws, such as the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 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.