Infrastructure Crisis Looms as Telecom Sites Face Attacks

Nigeria’s major telecom operators have sounded the alarm following a fresh wave of vandalism and theft that threatens to cripple the country’s communications infrastructure. According to the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), urgent intervention is needed to avert a potential nationwide network collapse.

Chairman Gbenga Adebayo said in a public statement that targeted attacks between May and July 2025 have hit facilities across states including Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Ekiti, and the FCT. These incidents have disrupted services, caused outages, and left many Nigerians offline for days.

“We are working tirelessly to improve service quality nationwide, but these acts of sabotage are setting us back,” Adebayo stated.

The situation is especially worrying as the industry is undergoing its largest infrastructure upgrade in years. Operators are rolling out thousands of kilometres of fibre, upgrading power systems, and enhancing transmission gear — all at risk of being undone by repeated attacks.

Telecom Theft Fuelling Black Market Trade

Thieves are targeting everything from diesel generators to solar panels, which are reportedly being resold to households. ALTON has flagged a growing black market, warning that telecom site batteries are now ending up in residential inverters, while stolen fuel is being sold illegally.

“If you purchase stolen telecom equipment, you are not just aiding criminals; you are participating in a national crime,” the association warned.

Critical assets like power cables and rectifiers are being looted, compromising not just phone and internet services but also systems vital to banking, healthcare, education, and national security. Even more worrying is the rise in accidental fibre cuts caused by roadworks, which have led to massive service breakdowns and financial losses.

The association is urging immediate action from the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, and other security heads to prevent further sabotage. Although telecom infrastructure was designated Critical National Infrastructure in 2021, enforcement and protection remain lacking.

ALTON praised the Nigerian Communications Commission for setting up a reporting portal for vandalism and suspicious activity. Citizens can report incidents via email at protect@ncc.gov.ng or by dialling 622.

“This is a desperate and urgent moment. The industry cannot handle this crisis alone,” operators stressed. “Our economic stability, national security, and digital future depend on it.”