MTN Nigeria has reported more than 5,400 fibre optic cable cuts in the first seven months of 2025, warning that the frequent disruptions are damaging service quality and slowing the country’s digital growth.
The company’s public relations manager, Lakinbofa Goodluck, disclosed the figures at the 10th edition of the New Media Conference in Lagos on Thursday, noting that July alone accounted for 760 incidents. Most of the cuts, he said, were linked to road construction and vandalism.
“What happens is that when the network is bad, someone somewhere has cut a cable,” Goodluck told an audience of media professionals, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.
He called for stronger protection of telecom infrastructure, including criminalising acts of vandalism, while appealing to presidential aide Dada Olusegun — who was present at the event — for government intervention.
“We make money when you browse, when you can make calls. How do we make more money when people complain of a bad network?” he asked.
MTN, which serves more than 80 million subscribers nationwide, has pledged ₦1 trillion (about $600 million) to expand 4G and 5G services. However, the company says repeated fibre cuts not only frustrate customers but also cost millions in repairs and disrupt economic activity.
Industry experts note the problem is widespread across operators, with roadworks accounting for roughly 70 percent of cases and vandalism making up the rest. Some criminals reportedly strip cables for resale as scrap. Earlier this month, a major cut triggered prolonged outages in parts of Lagos.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged contractors to work more closely with telecom providers, while analysts argue long-term solutions will require a joint effort between government, industry, and local communities.
The New Media Conference, which began in 2015, has grown into one of Africa’s leading platforms for discussions on technology, media, and innovation. This year’s edition also featured contributions from Yinka Adebayo of Omnicom Media Group and Wakanow CEO Bayo Adedeji.
