Hamza Muhammad Uba
Data Unveiled · Fibre Cut Crisis
NCC report · 6 months (2026)
Over 5,000 fibre cuts recorded in six months — a national infrastructure crisis.
Average of ~28 cuts per day · disrupting internet, financial services & critical comms.
5,000+
fibre cuts (6 months)
+18% vs previous~28
cuts per day
daily averageNCC
regulatory oversight
public alert37
states affected
nationwide spreadMonthly fibre cut trend
Cuts per month
3-month avg
Root cause breakdown
Excavation
Vandalism
Natural
Other
5,042
total fibre cuts (Jan–Jun)
62%
excavation-related
₦2.4B
estimated economic impact
14M
subscribers affected
National infrastructure at risk — The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported over 5,000 fibre optic cable cuts across 37 states in the first half of 2026. This represents a 18% increase compared to the same period in 2025, raising serious concerns about the resilience of Nigeria’s digital backbone.
Excavation work remains the primary cause, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all cuts. Road construction, building projects, and unauthorised digging continue to sever critical infrastructure — often without proper coordination with telecom operators.
Economic & social impact: Each major cut affects thousands of users, disrupts banking services, and costs the economy an estimated ₦2.4 billion in lost productivity and repair costs.
NCC response
- Stakeholder engagement
- Public awareness campaign
- Coordination with FERMA
- Proposed regulations
NCC monitoring dashboard live
