FIBRE OPTIC DAMAGE NOW A CRIMINAL OFFENCE, NCC AND NSCDC WARN CONTRACTORS

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have issued a nationwide warning over the rising cases of fibre optic cable damage, declaring such acts a serious threat to Nigeria’s critical national infrastructure and digital economy.

In a statement released in Abuja, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, cautioned construction companies, utility providers and government agencies to immediately halt practices that lead to the destruction of telecommunications infrastructure.

He said the growing incidents of fibre cuts mostly caused by negligence and poor coordination during excavation and construction would no longer be tolerated.

Afolabi stressed that offenders would be prosecuted, noting that damage to fibre optic infrastructure now constitutes a criminal offence under Nigerian law.

He explained that fibre optic cables form the backbone of the nation’s telecommunications system, supporting digital connectivity, emergency services, business operations and government activities across the country.

He further cited the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024, which classifies telecommunications fibre infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.

Under this designation, any damage arising from unauthorized excavation, construction work or failure to coordinate with relevant authorities is punishable under existing laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.

The NCC and NSCDC warned that individuals, construction firms and government contractors found culpable would face strict legal sanctions.

They added that future fibre damage linked to road works, civil engineering projects or excavation carried out without proper consultation would attract swift enforcement action.

The agencies called on federal, state and local government bodies, road construction firms, utility providers and private developers to comply with regulations by verifying fibre routes before construction, collaborating with telecom operators, the NCC and NSCDC, and strictly adhering to approved right-of-way and excavation guidelines.

Members of the public were also urged to report cases of fibre optic vandalism or accidental damage to the nearest NSCDC office or through designated channels, including protect@ncc.gov.ng, cipu@nscdc.gov.ng, or the toll-free line 622.