Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have issued a forceful warning to road construction companies, government contractors and civil engineering firms across the country, declaring that the era of unchecked fibre-optic cable damage during excavation works is over, with perpetrators now facing criminal prosecution.
NCC, NSCDC
The two agencies, in a joint statement, highlighted the alarming surge in avoidable fibre cuts caused by negligence, poor planning or outright disregard for infrastructure protection protocols, stressing that such incidents severely disrupt Nigeria’s digital backbone and will attract the full weight of the law moving forward.
They described fibre optic cables as indispensable national assets that fuel the nation’s burgeoning digital economy, ensuring uninterrupted communication services, powering emergency response systems, linking businesses for commerce and trade, and enabling seamless government operations at all levels.
Any destruction of these cables, whether through careless excavation, lack of coordination with telecom operators or deliberate sabotage, directly endangers national security, undermines economic stability and compromises public safety, the organisations warned, painting a grim picture of the cascading effects of even brief network outages on hospitals, financial institutions and security agencies nationwide.
Under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024, telecommunication fibre infrastructure has been officially classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure, making any damage from unauthorised digging, construction activities or failure to collaborate with relevant authorities a clear-cut criminal offence punishable under existing statutes.
Individuals, private construction companies and even government contractors found culpable will face immediate prosecution and stiff sanctions as stipulated in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, with the agencies vowing zero tolerance for what they termed economic sabotage disguised as construction mishaps.
“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 NCC and NSCDC declared categorically, underscoring their resolve to safeguard this vital ecosystem through heightened enforcement.
To forestall further incidents, the agencies implored federal, state and local government bodies, road construction firms, utility service providers and private property developers to adopt proactive measures including thorough pre-construction verification of underground fibre routes using approved mapping tools, early collaboration with the NCC, telecom operators and NSCDC both before and during project execution, strict adherence to national guidelines on excavation procedures and right-of-way management, and prompt reporting of any accidental damage to facilitate swift repairs and minimise downtime.
They emphasised that these steps represent the bare minimum for compliance in an era where digital connectivity is non-negotiable for Nigeria’s progress.
Members of the public have also been enlisted in this protection drive, with calls to report suspected sabotage, vandalism or unintended damage to fibre optic installations at the nearest NSCDC office, via email to [email protected] or [email protected], or by dialling the toll-free line 622 for immediate action.
This collaborative approach, the agencies believe, will not only deter would-be offenders but also foster a culture of accountability among all stakeholders handling earth-moving equipment or infrastructure projects in a country racing towards full digital transformation.
