Vandalism, Theft, Policy Gaps Threaten Nigeria’s $75.6bn Telecom Industry – Experts

Vandalism, infrastructure theft, and weak policy enforcement are posing severe risks to Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, jeopardising investments and slowing down network expansion, industry leaders have warned.

Speaking at the 7th Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) Summit on the implementation of the Executive Order on the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), in Lagos, industry leaders warned that while the CNII Order is a step in the right direction, it is not enough to protect critical telecom assets.

The chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, described vandalism and theft as persistent threats to telecom infrastructure, while pointing out that stolen manhole covers, power poles, and fiber-optic cables significantly disrupt operations.

“When properly installed, these components are difficult to remove. However, due to negligence, they are often left unsecured, making them easy targets for theft,” Adebayo explained.

He also highlighted community resistance as a challenge, recounting incidents where local communities blocked access to telecom sites due to previous damages caused by contractors. Such conflicts, he said, delay crucial infrastructure projects and lead to financial losses.

The alarming frequency of cable theft was another major concern raised at the summit, even as the CEO of Cedarview Communications Limited, Wale Owoeye, revealed that telecom operators face frequent cable cuts, severely affecting network performance. “Airtel representatives told me they experience a cable cut every six minutes. The assumption that all black cables contain valuable copper leads to reckless vandalism,” Owoeye said.

He proposed a three-pronged approach—reorientation, enforcement, and proactive measures—to combat this crisis. “We need to engage local communities in their native languages, educating them on the consequences of vandalism. Strict legal penalties, including long-term imprisonment, should be enforced to deter offenders,” he stated.

As a proactive measure, Owoeye pledged N500,000 quarterly as a seed fund for advocacy and awareness campaigns, encouraging other industry players to contribute.

“Prevention is always more effective and cost-efficient than restoration,” Owoeye said, stressing the need for proactive solutions rather than reactive fixes.

Beyond vandalism and theft, experts stressed that weak policy implementation and lack of standardisation are exacerbating infrastructure challenges. President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere, emphasized the need for proper industry coordination to ensure long-term sustainability.

“If infrastructure is deployed in a suboptimal manner, failure is inevitable.

We need to establish proper standards that all stakeholders—government, private sector, and the public—can align with,” he said.

Emoekpere also noted that policy enforcement remains a major challenge. “Nigeria has strong policies, such as local content policies, but implementation is where we struggle. We must move beyond discussions and focus on actionable steps,” he added.

The speakers collectively called for a concerted effort among telecom operators, government agencies, and local communities to address these pressing issues. They urged stakeholders to enhance infrastructure protection through better security measures, stricter regulations, and improved community engagement.