Airtel Nigeria laments consistent fibre cuts
The telecommunications industry in Nigeria is facing a crisis as Airtel Nigeria reports an alarming average of 43 fibre cuts daily on its network.
Over the past six months, the company has recorded a staggering 7,742 fibre cuts, prompting calls for immediate action to safeguard telecom infrastructure.
Femi Adeniran, Director of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Nigeria, sounded the alarm during a recent media briefing, describing the situation as an “epidemic” that threatens the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.
He attributed the fibre cuts to a combination of construction activities, vandalism, and poor coordination among stakeholders.
Adeniran emphasized the critical role telecommunications play in national development, noting that the infrastructure powers essential services across sectors such as healthcare, education, banking, and public safety.
He warned that fibre cuts not only disrupt services to millions of Nigerians but also hinder business operations, delay government processes, and compromise emergency responses.
“Imagine waking up to no internet, no mobile network, and no access to emergency services—all because a fibre cable was carelessly severed,” Adeniran lamented.
“This is the harsh reality we face daily in Nigeria.”
The issue has persisted despite recent policy measures.
In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu issued an official gazette designating telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure.
Under this directive, wilful destruction of telecom assets is now a criminal offense.
However, industry experts argue that policy declarations alone are insufficient without robust enforcement and practical interventions.
“This isn’t the first time such measures have been announced,” Adeniran noted, referencing a similar declaration by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020, which failed to curb the vandalism crisis.
Telecom experts and industry stakeholders have echoed Airtel’s call for urgent action.
They highlight the need for a coordinated response involving government agencies, security forces, construction companies, telecom operators, and civil society.
They called for stronger enforcement and penalties, regulation of construction activities, streamlined Right-of-Way (RoW) processes, adoption of technology, and public awareness campaigns.
Industry analysts warn that if left unchecked, the current rate of fibre cuts could escalate, severely undermining Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, acknowledged the scale of the challenge and pledged to strengthen protective measures for the ICT sector.
However, the road to a lasting solution remains fraught with challenges, particularly in enforcement and coordination.
Adeniran concluded with a plea for immediate action: “The integrity of our telecom networks is as critical as our roads, bridges, and airports. Protecting these assets is not just a business imperative; it’s a national priority.”
As Nigeria continues its push toward a digital economy, the protection of telecom infrastructure will be central to achieving sustainable growth.
Stakeholders agree that a united front is required to tackle the crisis and secure the country’s digital future.
