The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed a notable decline in the frequency of fibre-optic cable cuts across the country, recording a total of 1,883 incidents in the first three months of 2026.

This figure represents a significant downward trend compared to the volatility seen in 2025, where the industry averaged over 2,400 cuts per month, totalling more than 19,000 incidents in just eight months.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, attributed this improvement to the stringent enforcement of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024 and enhanced collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

NCC said the road construction and civil engineering works remained the leading cause, though “negligent damage” by contractors has dropped by approximately 30 per cent due to new “He Who Cuts Must Fix” policies.

The NCC, in partnership with the NSCDC, has successfully prosecuted several construction firms for failing to conduct pre-construction verification of fibre routes.

Maida said: “While 1,883 cuts in a single quarter is still too high for a modern digital economy, the trajectory is moving in the right direction. The designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure has changed the game. It is no longer just a civil matter; it is a criminal offence to damage these lifelines of our economy.”

Despite the drop in frequency, the NCC warned that the financial and social impact remains high. Fibre cuts were responsible for nearly 52 per cent of mobile network outages in the preceding year, affecting USSD banking services, healthcare data access, and digital commerce.

The Commission noted that the cost of repairs remains a burden on Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), who spent an estimated N14 billion on infrastructure restoration between 2022 and 2023 alone.

MEANWHILE, mobile networks appear to be becoming reliable as operators pour billions into infrastructure upgrades, driving a 170 per cent surge in data use and a sharp drop in consumer complaints.

Maida revealed that operators upgraded over 3,000 tower sites last year, with a target of 12,000 for 2026. About 2,800 of those have been completed as of April.

He disclosed that one operator alone spent roughly $1 billion on network upgrades, stressing that while industry-wide investment topped $1 billion in 2025.
According to the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, the upgrades are showing results. He said consumer complaints fell from 351,000 in January 2025 to 76,000 in January 2026, which is about 78 per cent drop.

Maida said 52 per cent of telecom users have now migrated from 2G and 3G to 4G, reflecting wider smartphone adoption. Data consumption nationwide has jumped more than 170 per cent.

On security, Maida said the Office of the National Security Adviser is coordinating efforts against cybercrime and criminal use of digital platforms.

He noted that the NCC has rolled out a revised Internet code of practice for operators to take down harmful content.