The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have warned that contractors and construction firms responsible for damaging fibre optic cables during civil works will now be prosecuted.
This was announced in a joint statement issued in Abuja where the two agencies said the increasing cases of fibre cuts caused by road construction, excavation, and other engineering activities have become a major threat to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and national security.
They stressed that fibre optic cables are classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) under the 2024 CNII Order, meaning any damage resulting from negligence, unauthorised digging, or poor coordination now constitutes a criminal offence.
According to the agencies, fibre networks are essential to Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting telecommunications services, financial transactions, emergency response systems, business operations, and government functions.
They stated that repeated disruption lead to service outages, economic losses, and risks to public safety.
The NCC and NSCDC warned that individuals, construction companies, and government contractors found culpable would be prosecuted under existing laws, including the cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention) Act, 2015.
They also urged federal, state, and local government agencies, road construction firms, utility providers, and private developers to comply strictly with established guidelines.
These include conducting pre-construction checks to identify fibre routes, collaborating with telecom operators and regulators before commencing projects, and adhering to approved excavation and right-of-way procedures.
The agencies also called for the immediate reporting of accidental fibre damage to enable swift repairs and minimise service disruptions, adding that public cooperation would be crucial in safeguarding Nigeria’s digital backbone.
