The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has sounded a nationwide alarm over the escalating wave of vandalism and theft targeting telecom infrastructure, warning that if left unchecked, these criminal acts could lead to a catastrophic collapse of communication services across the country.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, expressed deep concern over the surge in attacks on telecom sites between May and July 2025, with recorded incidents in states including Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“These acts of sabotage are setting the industry back despite unprecedented investments by our members in network optimisation, power upgrades, and fibre expansion,” Adebayo said. “If we do not act decisively now, we risk a total network blackout that will cripple critical sectors of our national life.”
According to ALTON, telecom sites are being systematically looted, with essential equipment like fibre optic cables, batteries, rectifiers, feeder cables, solar panels, and diesel generators stolen and sold on the black market. These components power the infrastructure that supports banking transactions, emergency response, healthcare delivery, education, and national security systems.
“Stolen telecom batteries are being used for home and office inverters, solar panels are resold for private use, and diesel meant for powering base stations is being siphoned off,” the association revealed. “These are not petty crimes. They threaten the very backbone of Nigeria’s digital and economic systems.”
The statement also noted frequent disruptions from fibre cuts caused by uncoordinated road construction and civil works. Operators have suffered massive losses due to damaged underground cables during highway and urban road projects, further compounding service outages and system failures.
States most affected by these disruptions include Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Edo, Kaduna, Niger, Osun, Kwara, and Abuja. ALTON stressed that continued sabotage not only affects individual operators but jeopardizes shared infrastructure and national digital resilience.
ALTON has now called on key national security agencies, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to urgently deploy special security interventions to protect telecom infrastructure.
“The sector cannot handle this crisis alone,” Adebayo said. “We require coordinated national action from all tiers of government, security agencies, regulators, civil society, and the Nigerian public. Our collective silence or inaction would be catastrophic.”
The association commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for launching a citizen-reporting platform where individuals can report vandalism or suspicious activities by emailing protect@ncc.gov.ng or dialling 622.
“Telecom infrastructure has been officially designated as Critical National Infrastructure since March 2021,” ALTON reminded the public. “Vandalism, sabotage, or illegal possession of telecom equipment is a criminal offence punishable by law.”
In closing, ALTON urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid purchasing stolen equipment. “If you buy telecom components of suspicious origin, you are not just aiding criminals, you are complicit in a national crime,” the association warned.
As the nation relies increasingly on digital systems for everyday life, the stakes have never been higher. Without urgent intervention, Nigeria’s digital economy and its broader national security could face severe disruption.
Read Also: NITRA, ALTON Convene Stakeholders to Chart Path for CNII Implementation and Telecom Sustainability
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