In response to ongoing complaints from major telecommunications companies like MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Nigeria is considering making the destruction of broadband fiber cables a criminal offense. Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that the Works Ministry, which oversees federal road construction, is in the final stages of drafting regulations. These regulations are expected to be enacted into law through an executive order signed by President Bola Tinubu.
While laws against vandalism already exist, authorities are looking to increase oversight of construction companies. The forthcoming executive order will impose harsh penalties on offenders, although specific details and the signing date have not been disclosed.
A senior presidential aide, Temitope Ajayi, emphasized the critical role of telecom assets in supporting the economy and noted that the Association of Telecommunications Companies has long advocated for this classification. The new regulations aim to provide additional assurance that the government will safeguard investments against vandals and criminals.
The Nigerian Communications Commission predicts that the telecom sector will contribute more than a fifth of the country’s GDP by the end of 2027, up from 13.5% in the previous year’s third quarter. This initiative is intended to ease the challenges faced by the sector, including rising operational costs and sales pressures due to currency depreciation and soaring energy prices.
Damage to fiber cables led to an estimated loss of nearly N27bn ($23m) in the sector last year alone, with MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa facing significant costs. MTN reported over 6,000 cable cuts in the previous year, leading to service disruptions for customers. The company spent over N11bn relocating vulnerable fiber cables between 2022 and 2023.
Welcoming the prospect of a presidential order on this issue, the head of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, expressed optimism about the industry’s future. “The destruction of communication infrastructure has been rampant, so we eagerly anticipate the president’s order. It would not only benefit the industry but also attract more investments,” he stated.