The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is pushing plans to establish an industry-wide security fund to protect telecommunications infrastructure from vandalism, theft and sabotage that continue to disrupt network services across the country.
The proposal was one of the key resolutions of the Commission’s 109th Governing Board Meeting held on May 25, 2026, where members reviewed challenges affecting network operations, infrastructure protection and the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The move comes amid growing concerns over attacks on telecommunications infrastructure, which operators say continue to disrupt services, increase operating costs and slow network expansion. The NCC has disclosed that more than 50,000 incidents of telecom infrastructure destruction were recorded over a five-year period, including fibre cuts, vandalism of base stations, theft of generators and batteries, and other forms of sabotage.
Despite the designation of telecommunications facilities as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), incidents of vandalism, fibre cuts and theft of network equipment continue to pose a significant threat to service quality, network resilience and investment in the sector.
The Board acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to safeguard telecom assets but stressed the need for stronger collaboration among operators, regulators, security agencies and host communities to address the challenge.
According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Commission will fast-track initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure security, including exploring the feasibility of establishing a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund to support the protection of telecommunications assets and related infrastructure.
The Board also reviewed compliance by colocation and infrastructure-sharing licensees, popularly known as TowerCos, with a directive requiring them to reinvest regulatory fines into infrastructure upgrades designed to improve network resilience and service quality.
While acknowledging progress, the Board noted that some TowerCos had only partially complied with the requirement to fund escrow accounts with the full amount of regulatory fines earmarked for infrastructure upgrades. It stressed that full compliance is necessary to achieve measurable improvements in network resilience and service quality.
The meeting further assessed ongoing engagements with industry stakeholders on the proposed zero-rating of educational platforms and digital learning content.
According to the Board, the initiative is aimed at promoting digital inclusion, bridging the urban-rural digital divide and expanding access to educational resources through affordable internet connectivity.
It noted that consultations are continuing to develop an appropriate framework for implementing the initiative in a manner that balances educational access with the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications ecosystem.
The Board noted that consultations are continuing to develop an appropriate framework for implementing the initiative in a manner that balances educational access with the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications ecosystem
