Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have warned against damage to fibre-optic cables during road construction and related civil works across the country.
ACC Afolabi Babawale, National Public Relations Officer at the National Headquarters in Abuja, said in a statement on Sunday that the rising incidents of avoidable fibre-optic cuts arising from negligence would no longer be excused, as offenders now risk prosecution.
The NCC and NSCDC stressed that fibre-optic cables are critical national assets that power Nigeria’s digital economy, enable seamless communication, support emergency services, connect businesses, and facilitate government operations. They added that destroying them—whether through negligence, lack of coordination, or wilful actions—poses a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and public safety.
According to the organisations, under the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order 2024, telecommunication fibre infrastructure is classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
Consequently, any damage resulting from unauthorised digging, construction activities, or failure to collaborate with relevant authorities to prevent damage during construction constitutes a criminal offence.
They warned that individuals, construction companies, or government contractors who damage fibre-optic infrastructure would be made to face prosecution and applicable sanctions as provided under existing laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
They, therefore, issued a categorical warning that future damage to fibre-optic infrastructure caused by excavation, road construction, or any civil engineering activity conducted without due consultation or collaboration with network operators and relevant regulators would attract strict legal consequences.
They called on federal, state, and local government agencies; road construction companies; utility service providers; and private developers to ensure full compliance by conducting pre-construction verification of fibre routes; collaborating with the NCC, telecom operators and the NSCDC before and during construction; adhering to approved guidelines for excavation and right-of-way management; and reporting any accidental damage immediately to enable rapid response and mitigation.
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