Nigeria’s telecom industry is facing a serious crisis. Despite being classified as Critical National Infrastructure by the federal government, telecom facilities worth over $75.6 billion are under threat from vandalism and sabotage. In just seven months, over 680 incidents were recorded across key states like Lagos, Rivers, and the FCT.
Telecom giants like MTN Nigeria have been forced to divert ₦26.3 billion into repairs—fixing damaged fibre cables, replacing batteries, and relocating base stations. These disruptions are slowing network expansion and affecting millions of users who rely on digital services.
Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi has promised tough legal action, calling the acts “economic sabotage.” But enforcement has been patchy. Without stronger security coordination and clear consequences for offenders, investor confidence in the sector could suffer—putting Nigeria’s digital future and 5G rollout plans at risk.
