Severed Fiber Optic Cable Disrupts Abuja Airport Connectivity, highlighting Nigeria’s Telecom Crisis
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, hundreds of passengers at Abuja International Airport were left stranded without the ability to make calls or access the internet. The disruption was caused by a severed fiber optic cable, owned by MTN Nigeria, which was accidentally cut by road construction workers in a nearby community.
When MTN engineers arrived to repair the damage,they were met with an unexpected obstacle: alleged miscreants blocked access,demanding payment before allowing repairs to proceed. Faced with the urgency of restoring services, MTN Nigeria had no choice but to comply, further escalating the cost of the disruption.While normal operations eventually resumed, the incident underscored the growing crisis of infrastructure vandalism plaguing Nigeria’s telecom sector.
A Growing Crisis in Nigeria’s Telecom Sector
MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecom operator with a vast network of 40,000 kilometers of fiber cables, faces an average of 37 fiber cuts daily—amounting to over 1,000 incidents per month. Airtel Nigeria reports similar challenges, with around 43 cuts per day and 7,742 incidents recorded in the first half of 2024 alone.
Yahaya Ibrahim,MTN Nigeria’s Chief technical Officer (CTO),revealed that the rate of fiber cuts shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. In the first three weeks of January, the telco recorded over 860 damages to its fiber infrastructure. “Four weeks ago, at Park View estate, we had people throwing fire into the manholes (where fiber cables were laid). We lost traffic,” Ibrahim told TechCabal.
Causes of Fiber Cuts
The primary culprit behind these disruptions is road construction, accounting for 60% of fiber cuts. Vandalism, bush burning, farming activities, and pipe-borne water digging contribute to 20%, while the remaining 20% is attributed to cable theft. These frequent incidents not onyl disrupt businesses and essential services but also impose significant financial losses on telecom providers,exacerbating nigeria’s connectivity challenges.
According to Ibrahim, a single fiber cut can impact up to 500 base stations. Such as, a cut in Ikoyi can disrupt services in Ikeja, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of these disruptions.
Government Response and industry Efforts
In 2024, the Nigerian government issued an executive order designating telecom infrastructure as national assets and criminalizing intentional damage. Though, implementation has yet to begin. Industry stakeholders are currently engaging with the government to develop an enforcement strategy.
This strategy involves three key steps: educating Nigerians on the importance of the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) order, fostering inter-ministerial collaboration to align government agencies, and enforcing the order through a joint effort between the Nigerian communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Implementation is expected to begin in February 2025.
Exploring Choice Solutions
In the interim, telecom operators are exploring alternative fiber deployment methods, such as using aerial cables along power lines. While this approach reduces the risk of cuts and enhances security, it presents logistical challenges. Many base stations are located far from power lines, requiring a transition from aerial to underground cables, which increases costs.“So yes, aerial cables are less susceptible to cuts and are safer, but they are also more expensive,” Ibrahim explained.
Key Statistics on fiber Cuts in Nigeria
| metric | MTN Nigeria | Airtel Nigeria |
|——————————–|———————–|————————|
| Average daily Fiber Cuts | 37 | 43 |
| Monthly Incidents (2024) | Over 1,000 | 7,742 (H1 2024) |
| Primary Cause of Cuts | Road Construction (60%)| Road Construction (60%)|
| Financial Impact | Significant | Significant |
The disruption at Abuja International Airport serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure challenges. As the government and industry stakeholders work towards implementing the CNI order, the hope is that these measures will curb the rising tide of fiber cuts and ensure a more stable and reliable telecom network for all Nigerians.The provided text does not contain any substantive information or content that can be used to create a news article. It consists solely of JavaScript code snippets related to Facebook tracking and SDK integration, which are technical in nature and do not provide any material for journalistic reporting.
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Fiber Optic Crisis in Nigeria: Abuja Airport Outage Highlights Urgent Need for Infrastructure Reform
In January 2025, a severed fiber optic cable left passengers at Abuja International Airport stranded without connectivity, shedding light on Nigeria’s escalating telecom infrastructure challenges.The incident, caused by road construction and exacerbated by local interference, underscores the broader issue of frequent fiber cuts plaguing the nation’s telecom sector. To explore this pressing matter, World Today News’ Senior Editor sits down with Dr. Emeka Okoro, a telecommunications expert, to discuss the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to Nigeria’s telecom crisis.
The Abuja Airport Outage: A Symptom of a Larger Problem
Editor: Dr. Okoro, the recent disruption at Abuja International Airport due to a severed fiber optic cable has drawn significant attention. Can you explain how such incidents reflect the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure?
Dr. Okoro: Absolutely. The Abuja Airport incident is a microcosm of the systemic issues in Nigeria’s telecom sector. The fiber cable, owned by MTN Nigeria, was accidentally cut during road construction, which is a common occurrence. Though, the situation worsened when local miscreants blocked access to the site, demanding payment before allowing repairs. This highlights not only the vulnerability of our infrastructure but also the socio-economic factors that compound thes disruptions.
Nigeria’s telecom operators,like MTN and Airtel,face thousands of fiber cuts annually. These incidents disrupt essential services, hinder economic activities, and impose massive financial burdens on telecom providers. The airport outage is a stark reminder of how fragile our connectivity ecosystem is and how urgently we need to address these challenges.
The Scale of the Fiber Crisis
Editor: The article mentions that MTN Nigeria experiences an average of 37 fiber cuts daily, while Airtel reports 43. What are the primary causes of these disruptions?
Dr. okoro: Road construction is the leading cause, accounting for about 60% of fiber cuts. As cities expand and infrastructure projects increase, cables laid underground are often damaged unintentionally. Though, vandalism, bush burning, farming activities, and even cable theft contribute substantially to the problem.For instance, MTN recently reported that individuals set fire to manholes containing fiber cables, causing widespread service outages.
These cuts don’t just affect isolated areas. A single incident can disrupt hundreds of base stations, impacting entire regions. For example, a cut in Ikoyi can lead to service disruptions in Ikeja, showcasing the interconnected nature of our telecom networks.
Government and Industry Responses
Editor: The Nigerian government issued an executive order in 2024 designating telecom infrastructure as critical national assets. How effective has this been in addressing the issue?
Dr. Okoro: While the initiative is a step in the right direction, implementation has been slow.The executive order aims to criminalize intentional damage to telecom infrastructure, but enforcement is still in its early stages. Industry stakeholders are working with the government to develop a robust strategy, which includes public education, inter-ministerial collaboration, and joint enforcement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The hope is that these measures will deter vandalism and ensure that infrastructure is protected. however, the real test will be in how effectively the government can translate these plans into action, especially in light of the rising incidents of fiber cuts.
Exploring Alternative Solutions
Editor: Telecom operators are reportedly considering aerial fiber deployment along power lines as an alternative. What are the pros and cons of this approach?
Dr. Okoro: Aerial cables are less susceptible to cuts and are generally more secure, as they are elevated and harder to access. However, this method comes with its own set of challenges. Many base stations are located far from power lines, requiring a transition from aerial to underground cables, which increases deployment costs. Additionally, aerial cables are more expensive to install and maintain, making it a less viable option for widespread implementation.
while it’s a promising solution for certain areas, it’s not a one-size-fits-all fix. A combination of aerial and underground deployments, coupled with stringent protective measures, might offer a more balanced approach to mitigating fiber cuts.
Key Takeaways and the Path Forward
Editor: What would you say are the most critical steps needed to resolve Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure crisis?
Dr. Okoro: First, there needs to be a concerted effort to enforce the executive order designating telecom infrastructure as critical national assets. Public education is also crucial—citizens need to understand the importance of protecting these assets.Secondly, collaboration between government agencies and telecom operators must be strengthened to ensure swift responses to incidents and efficient implementation of protective measures.
Lastly, exploring innovative deployment methods, like aerial cables, coudl help reduce the frequency of fiber cuts, but these must be supported by adequate funding and planning. Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, combining policy enforcement, public awareness, and technological innovation.
Conclusion
The Abuja Airport outage serves as a wake-up call for nigeria to prioritize its telecom infrastructure.As Dr. Emeka Okoro highlights, the crisis demands immediate action, from enforcing protective policies to exploring alternative deployment methods.With collaboration between the government, industry stakeholders, and the public, Nigeria can build a more resilient and reliable telecom network for the future.
