MTN Nigeria Hit by 5,400 Fibre Cuts in Seven Months

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYAugust 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM UTC

TLDR

MTN Nigeria said it recorded more than 5,400 fibre optic cable cuts between January and July 2025
The operator reported 760 fibre cuts in July alone, while June saw 1,016—the highest monthly total
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimates the industry faces 1,100 fibre cuts weekly, stressing dialogue over penalties

MTN Nigeria said it recorded more than 5,400 fibre optic cable cuts between January and July 2025, with road construction and vandalism emerging as the biggest threats to its network. The operator reported 760 fibre cuts in July alone, while June saw 1,016—the highest monthly total.

One of the most severe incidents knocked out service at 101 sites across 15 local government areas in Kano, Adamawa, and Borno states. Repairs are scheduled for August 24. “This is just one of the ripple effects of vandalism, forcing us to rebuild, reroute, and restore infrastructure,” MTN said in a customer notice.

Road construction accounted for over 60% of the damage, reflecting Nigeria’s aggressive road expansion. Niger State alone is building 556 km of new roads, part of a ₦1.2 trillion four-year plan. Officials say operators should shift to aerial fibre on power lines to reduce exposure.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimates the industry faces 1,100 fibre cuts weekly, stressing dialogue over penalties.

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Key Takeaways

MTN’s fibre woes underscore the vulnerability of Nigeria’s digital backbone at a time of surging demand for data and mobile broadband. While the government has gazetted telecom assets as Critical National Infrastructure, enforcement remains weak, leaving operators exposed to construction projects, theft, and sabotage. The financial and service costs are significant: each cut triggers expensive rerouting and prolonged outages across multiple states. With operators already pressured by high capex and tariff debates, repeated fibre disruption risks eroding service quality and delaying investment. State-level road projects highlight the clash between physical infrastructure expansion and digital infrastructure resilience. NCC’s push for collaboration and awareness—rather than punishment—shows regulators’ tightrope walk between enabling growth and protecting networks. The broader challenge is ensuring that Nigeria’s trillion-naira infrastructure boom doesn’t undermine its digital economy.

Business

MTN Nigeria

Telecommunication

Fibre Cuts

Digital Infrastructure

NCC