NCC, NSCDC Warn Construction Firms Over Rising Fibre Optic Cable Damage
Oru Leonard
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 incidents of fibre-optic cable damage during road construction and related civil works across the country.
The agencies said avoidable fibre cuts caused by negligence will no longer be tolerated, stressing that offenders risk prosecution, as such actions now constitute a criminal offence under existing laws.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs Department, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, described fibre-optic infrastructure as a vital national asset that must be protected at all times.
“Fibre-optic cables are critical national assets that power Nigeria’s digital economy, enable seamless communication, support emergency services, connect businesses and facilitate government operations,” Ukoha said. “Their destruction, whether through negligence, lack of coordination or wilful actions, poses a direct threat to national security, economic stability and public safety.”
She explained that under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024, telecommunication fibre infrastructure has been formally classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
“Consequently, any damage resulting from unauthorised digging, construction activities or failure to collaborate with relevant authorities to prevent damage during construction constitutes a criminal offence,” she added.
Also speaking, the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Babawale Afolabi, warned that individuals, construction companies and government contractors found culpable would face prosecution and applicable sanctions under the law.
“Future damage to fibre-optic infrastructure caused by excavation, road construction or any civil engineering activity conducted without due consultation or collaboration with network operators and relevant regulators will attract strict legal consequences,” Afolabi stated.
He noted that such offences are punishable under existing legislation, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
The NCC and NSCDC called on federal, state and local government agencies, road construction companies, utility service providers and private developers to comply fully with established procedures. These include conducting pre-construction verification of fibre routes, collaborating with the NCC, telecom operators and NSCDC before and during construction, adhering to approved excavation and right-of-way guidelines, and promptly reporting any accidental damage for swift response and mitigation.
The agencies also urged members of the public to report any act of sabotage or damage to fibre-optic infrastructure to the nearest NSCDC office, via email at protect@ncc.gov.ng or cipu@nscdc.gov.ng, or by calling the 622 toll-free line.
The statement was jointly signed by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs Department, NCC, and ACC Babawale Afolabi, National Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, and dated February 4, 2026.
