NCC Reports Surge in Data Use Amid Fibre Disruptions

Nigeria's digital economy is increasingly reliant on data, with consumption rising from approximately 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025 to 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This growing dependence on connectivity for various sectors, including banking and healthcare, is threatened by frequent disruptions to the physical infrastructure.

The NCC reported over 5,000 fibre-cut incidents in the first six months of 2026, primarily due to road construction and excavation activities. In 2024, there were more than 50,000 fibre cuts, with around 30,000 linked to road construction.

Dr Aminu Maida, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, emphasized the broader implications of these disruptions, which affect not just telecommunications but the economy as a whole. MTN Nigeria's Chief Technical Officer, Yahaya Ibrahim, stated that the company spends about ₦7 billion annually on fibre relocation due to such disruptions.

To address these issues, a Joint Standing Committee on Fibre Optic Cable Protection was established in 2025 by the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.