ATCON Demands Stricter Penalties to Halt Infrastructure Attacks and Vandalism
Telecom Industry Warns of Weak Legal Framework Under CNII Policy
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has raised concerns over the inadequacy of penalties under Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) policy, which is designed to protect telecom infrastructure from sabotage and theft. Tony Emoekpere, ATCON’s president, emphasized that current legal measures are not sufficient to deter criminal activities targeting vital telecom assets.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Emoekpere highlighted the need for urgent legal reforms to strengthen enforcement. He noted that while offenders are being apprehended and prosecuted, the existing framework fails to act as a strong deterrent. "People are being caught, but the offences are still treated as petty crimes. That limits the impact. CNII needs stronger legal backing such as an Act or executive order to give it more teeth," he said.
The CNII Order 2024, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, serves as the primary legal framework for safeguarding critical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure against vandalism, sabotage, and theft. This order is anchored on the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and classifies assets such as telecom towers, fibre-optic cables, and data centres as critical national infrastructure requiring enhanced protection.
Emoekpere also pointed out that ATCON is actively supporting the implementation of the CNII policy in collaboration with security agencies. He stressed the importance of telecom infrastructure to national security and economic growth. However, he acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in the form of right-of-way approvals across states, which have become a major bottleneck for projects like the Federal Government’s “Project Bridge.” This initiative aims to expand connectivity nationwide, but the multi-state approval process is slowing progress.
On service quality, Emoekpere explained that operators are struggling to keep up with the rising number of subscribers and increasing data demand, despite recent tariff adjustments. "The challenge is not that nothing is being done—investments are ongoing. But demand is growing even faster, and operators are constantly trying to catch up," he said.
He added that subscriber migration between networks and shifting usage patterns are placing additional pressure on certain operators, contributing to service fluctuations. Nevertheless, he assured customers that efforts are ongoing to improve network performance. "We value our subscribers, and everything is being done not just to maintain, but to improve service delivery," he stated.
Ongoing Challenges in Infrastructure Protection
The telecommunications sector has consistently identified infrastructure vandalism as a major challenge affecting service delivery and operational costs. Despite the CNII Order, Nigeria recorded 1,883 fibre cuts in the first quarter of 2026, while between January and August 2025, about 19,384 incidents were reported nationwide, averaging more than 2,400 monthly cases.
MTN Nigeria alone reported 9,218 fibre cuts in 2025, compared with 9,000 in 2024 and 6,000 in 2023, highlighting the increasing scale of the problem. The sector has also faced widespread theft of generators, batteries, and other power assets used to keep telecom sites operational.
In 2025, criminals reportedly stole 656 critical power assets, including 152 generators and 504 batteries, while telecom operators lost an estimated ₦27 billion nationwide within a 12-month period due to infrastructure damage. Industry reports further indicated that 577 network outages recorded in the first quarter of 2026 were directly linked to vandalism of telecoms infrastructure.
Call for Stronger Legal Measures
ATCON's warnings underscore the need for stronger legal measures to protect critical telecom infrastructure. While the CNII Order provides a framework for safeguarding ICT assets, the lack of severe penalties continues to hinder its effectiveness. Emoekpere called for an Act or executive order to provide the necessary legal backing to ensure that offenders face consequences that match the severity of their actions.
As the industry grapples with rising threats, stakeholders remain hopeful that improved enforcement and stricter penalties will lead to a significant reduction in infrastructure attacks. Until then, telecom operators must continue investing in network resilience and working closely with security agencies to mitigate the impact of these challenges on service delivery.
