Telecom Under Attack, that is the grim message of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) as it revealed over 50,000 cases of telecom vandalism between 2018 and 2023.
Such attacks destroyed vital fibre cable, towers, and base stations, and this has disrupted national connectivity and economic development to a large extent.
NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida disclosed that operators lose billions yearly in repairing ruined infrastructure.
More than 147 cable cuts in this May alone affected the services in various states and millions of people lacked stable networks.
To fight this, the NCC has designated telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which implies that a harsher punishment will now be imposed on perpetrators.
The agency is also in close coordination with the security agencies and the local communities to enhance protection.
Dr. Maida urged every Nigerian to report any suspicious activity as soon as possible by use of NCC hotlines or through official email address.
It is critical to have the support of the people in order to prevent the increasing menace and defend vital digital services.
The big players such as MTN and Airtel have lost millions of dollars and thousands of fibre cuts within several months.
Such attacks increase the cost of service and destroy the digital economy of Nigeria, which affects businesses and individuals.
Telecom Under Attack is not a catchy headline, it is a national emergency and as such, needs to be addressed.
Nigerians can safeguard the networks that run daily life and make the nation move forward by uniting.
