ALTON calls for immediate action to protect telecom infrastructure now as vandalism and theft threaten Nigeria’s digital economy and national security

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has sounded a dire warning to protect telecom infrastructure now, as increasing attacks on critical installations threaten to cripple the country’s communications systems.

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In an alarming statement, the group urged federal and state authorities to act swiftly before nationwide service collapse occurs.

Between May and July 2025, widespread vandalism and theft hit telecom sites across Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, and Abuja.

The attacks disrupted services and triggered prolonged outages. Operators say that this damage is causing severe congestion and leaving millions without reliable connectivity.

“This is a desperate and urgent moment,” ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo said.

“The industry cannot handle this crisis alone. We need coordinated national action from security agencies, the government at all levels, regulators, the media, civil society, and the public. Our economic stability, national security, and digital future depend on it.”

He warned that the situation may lead to a total network collapse unless drastic security measures are adopted to protect telecom infrastructure now.

According to ALTON, Nigeria’s telecom industry is undergoing its largest infrastructure expansion in recent years.

Operators are modernising transmission sites, upgrading power systems, and laying thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cables to strengthen network coverage. However, the progress is being rolled back by targeted theft and destruction.

Thieves are reportedly stripping power cables, rectifiers, fibre optics, feeder lines, diesel generators, batteries, and solar panels from base stations.

These components are critical to the function of Nigeria’s digital systems, from emergency response to education and banking.

“When these components are stolen or vandalised, it is not only phone calls and data that are affected. Our banking systems, emergency services, healthcare, education, and national security platforms are all compromised,” the operators said.

The highest number of reported attacks occurred in Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Osun, Kwara, and Abuja.

ALTON disclosed that stolen telecom equipment is being sold on a growing black market. Batteries are repurposed for home inverters, while stolen solar panels power residential homes. Fuel meant for towers is also being siphoned and sold.

The association issued a strong warning to the public: “If you purchase stolen telecom equipment, you are not just aiding criminals; you are participating in a national crime.”

Telecom infrastructure was officially designated as Critical National Infrastructure in March 2021. As such, vandalism or illegal possession of telecom assets is a criminal offence under Nigerian law.

ALTON also pointed to repeated fibre cuts caused by uncoordinated road construction. Roadworks have destroyed buried fibre cables, causing massive service blackouts and major financial losses.

The group is calling on the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police, DSS, and NSCDC to deploy immediate protection measures.

It praised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for providing a portal for reporting vandalism at protect@ncc.gov.ng and the emergency number 622.

The association warned that failure to protect telecom infrastructure now would compromise the nation’s ability to operate core services.

“We are working tirelessly to improve service quality nationwide, but these acts of sabotage are setting us back,” Adebayo stressed.

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Unless urgent action is taken, Nigeria’s digital economy could be thrown into reverse.