Damage Fibre Cable, Face Prosecution, Civil Defence Warns Contractors

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has warned construction companies and contractors operating in Abuja to desist from vandalising underground fibre-optic cables during excavation works or face prosecution.

The FCT commandant of the corps, Dr Olusola Odumosu, who gave the warning yesterday, cited the increasing destruction of underground telecommunication infrastructure across the nation’s capital due to negligence, poor planning, and contractors’ failure to verify the presence of communication lines before digging.

According to a statement signed by the command’s public relations officer, DSC Monica Ojobi, Odumosu said the repeated damage to fibre-optic cables had led to frequent disruptions of internet services, banking operations, communication networks and other critical government and commercial activities within the FCT.

He said telecommunication infrastructure had been designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order 2024, stressing that any deliberate or negligent damage to such installations constitutes a serious offence with national security implications.

“The recurrent damage to underground fibre-optic cables poses a threat to national security and the country’s economic stability,” he said.

The commandant added that the corps derives its enforcement powers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act 2003 (as amended 2007), which mandates it to protect critical infrastructure, investigate offences and prosecute individuals or organisations involved in vandalism of national assets.

He said the law empowers the corps to conduct surveillance on critical infrastructure, arrest and detain suspects, search premises and seize materials used in the destruction of public utilities such as communication cables, power installations, pipelines and water facilities.

Odumosu added that in line with directives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, contractors carrying out excavation or construction works in the FCT must first verify the presence of underground utilities and liaise with telecommunication service providers, the NSCDC and relevant government authorities before commencing any digging activities.