The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have issued a stern warning to construction companies, government contractors and other stakeholders over the increasing damage to fibre-optic cables during road construction and related civil works across the country.
The agencies said the growing number of avoidable fibre cuts, largely caused by negligence and poor coordination, would no longer be tolerated, stressing that offenders risk prosecution as such acts constitute criminal offences.
According to the NCC and NSCDC, fibre-optic cables are critical national assets that underpin Nigeria’s digital economy, enable reliable communication, support emergency services, connect businesses and facilitate government operations.
They warned that damage to this infrastructure—whether through negligence, lack of coordination or wilful actions—poses a serious threat to national security, economic stability and public safety.
They noted that under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024, telecommunications fibre infrastructure is classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
As a result, any damage arising from unauthorised excavation, construction activities or failure to engage relevant authorities during civil works amounts to a criminal offence.
The agencies further cautioned that individuals, construction firms or government contractors found culpable of damaging fibre-optic infrastructure would face prosecution and appropriate sanctions in line with existing laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Issuing what they described as a categorical warning, the NCC and NSCDC stated that future damage to fibre-optic infrastructure caused by excavation, road construction or other civil engineering activities carried out without proper consultation and collaboration with network operators and relevant regulators would attract strict legal consequences.
They urged federal, state and local government agencies, road construction companies, utility service providers and private developers to ensure full compliance by conducting pre-construction verification of fibre routes, collaborating with the NCC, telecom operators and the NSCDC before and during construction, adhering to approved excavation and right-of-way guidelines, and promptly reporting any accidental damage to enable swift response and mitigation.
