• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

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

by Royal Ibeh
2 months ago
in Business
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

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.

Advertisement

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.

RELATED

Bitget Hosts Blockchain Education Day To Foster Web3 Awareness Growth

Bitget Hosts Blockchain Education Day To Foster Web3 Awareness Growth

19 hours ago
2025 Budget: Outcry As Agency Appropriates N6bn On Frivolities

2025 Budget: Outcry As Agency Appropriates N6bn On Frivolities

20 hours ago

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.


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

START EARNING US DOLLARS as a Nigerian ($35,000) monthly. Companies are sacking their workers due to AI (artificial intelligence), business owners are in panic mode. Only the smart will make it. Click here


SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Trans Niger Oil Pipeline Resumes Operation After Blast

Next Post

Rotary Organises Seminar On Leadership, Teamwork

Royal Ibeh

Royal Ibeh

You May Like

Bitget Hosts Blockchain Education Day To Foster Web3 Awareness Growth
Business

Bitget Hosts Blockchain Education Day To Foster Web3 Awareness Growth

2025/06/07
2025 Budget: Outcry As Agency Appropriates N6bn On Frivolities
Business

2025 Budget: Outcry As Agency Appropriates N6bn On Frivolities

2025/06/07
FCCPC To Prosecute PoS Operators Over Service Price Fixing
Business

FCCPC Sets Up Committee For Anti-counterfeit Portal

2025/06/07
Asharami Energy Commits To Local Capacity Devt, Sustainable Growth
Business

Asharami Energy Commits To Local Capacity Devt, Sustainable Growth

2025/06/07
BPP, CIPS Strengthen Partnership On Procurement Practice, Sign MoU
Business

BPP, CIPS Strengthen Partnership On Procurement Practice, Sign MoU

2025/06/07
Centre Partners Niger Delta Varsity On Marine Training
Business

Centre Partners Niger Delta Varsity On Marine Training

2025/06/07
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Boko Haram Abducts Catholic Priest, 9 Others, Kills 1 In Borno

Katsina Govt Moves Against Threats To Peace, Stability

Delta Govt Approves Repair Of Palace Road, N6.7bn UBEC Grant

HURIWA Urges Federal Gov’t To Immortalise Mike Ejeagha

NDDC Will Sustain Support For Digital Transformation In Niger Delta, Says Ogbuku

Gov Eno’s Defection Will Unlock Opportunities In South-South – Okpebholo

No Trust, No Police

Risk Managers Seek Review Of Nigeria’s Early Warning Systems

$300m AMCE To Curb Medical Tourism Drain

COAS Lauds Army Veterans, Reaffirms Support For Welfare

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.