Government agencies and telecom operators are intensifying coordination efforts to curb fibre-optic cable damage, estimated at about 27,000 cuts nationwide, as industry stakeholders warn that weak installation standards, construction activities and vandalism continue to undermine broadband expansion.
The figure, referenced during a technical session at the Critical Conversation Forum on Fibre-to-the-Home 2026 organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria in Lagos on Tuesday, has become a focal point for renewed calls to strengthen infrastructure protection under the country’s Critical National Information Infrastructure framework.
At the panel session on technical standards and infrastructure resilience, industry executives and state officials said the scale of fibre cuts reflects deeper structural issues in Nigeria’s broadband rollout, including poor deployment practices and limited coordination among telecom operators, contractors and public works agencies.
The Managing Director of the Edo State Information and Communications Technology Agency, Eghosa Urhoghide, said collaboration among government agencies, operators and communities was central to reducing fibre cuts nationwide.
