NIGERIA’s telecommunications sector is grappling with mounting financial losses running into billions of naira as theft of critical infrastructure continues to surge, raising serious concerns about the stability of the country’s digital backbone.
Recent data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission obtained by News Point Nigeria revealed that more than 650 power-related assets including generators, batteries, and other essential equipment were stolen in 2025 alone. The development highlights growing vulnerabilities in telecom operations, particularly in a country where unreliable electricity supply makes off-grid power systems indispensable to network functionality.
Industry stakeholders say the scale of the problem has moved beyond routine operational disruption to a more severe and systemic risk. The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria noted that the surge in theft now constitutes what it described as an “existential threat” to the telecom sector.
The stolen components play a critical role in keeping base stations operational, especially given Nigeria’s dependence on diesel generators, batteries, and hybrid systems to maintain network uptime. Without these, operators struggle to sustain consistent service delivery.
Speaking on the situation, ATCON President, Tony Emoekpere, said telecom companies are increasingly operating in a defensive mode, focusing more on protecting existing infrastructure than expanding services.
“Operators are responding, but largely in a defensive mode,” he explained. “What you’re seeing now is a combination of increased physical security, technology deployment, and changes to how sites are designed and powered.”
Measures being adopted include the deployment of additional security personnel, collaboration with local vigilante groups, reinforcement of base station enclosures, and the use of remote monitoring technologies capable of detecting tampering in real time.
Operators are also redesigning infrastructure to reduce vulnerability, moving away from easily detachable components such as standalone batteries to more integrated and hybrid systems. However, industry players warn that even these newer systems, including solar-powered installations, are increasingly being targeted by thieves.
To combat the growing threat, stakeholders including ATCON, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are strengthening collaboration to improve intelligence sharing and response mechanisms.
Despite these efforts, concerns persist over the financial strain on operators, who are now spending significantly more on safeguarding infrastructure than on network expansion.
“We are spending more to protect infrastructure than we should, and that is not sustainable,” Emoekpere said.
The impact of the theft is already evident across the country, with operators reporting frequent site shutdowns that directly affect service quality. Loss of generators and batteries often results in network outages, increased call drops, poor voice clarity, and slower or completely unavailable data services.
While operators can sometimes reroute traffic in urban areas, this often leads to congestion and degraded service quality. In rural and remote regions, however, such losses frequently result in complete network blackouts.
Industry experts warn that subscribers are already feeling the effects, even if many are unaware of the underlying causes. The financial burden, they say, ultimately trickles down to consumers.
“These losses run into billions of naira annually. While operators are absorbing much of the cost for now, it inevitably feeds into the overall cost structure of the industry,” Emoekpere noted.
He added that consumers are effectively paying twice first through deteriorating service quality, and later through increased pricing pressures and reduced investment in network expansion.
While telecom infrastructure has been officially designated as Critical National Infrastructure, ATCON argues that enforcement remains weak. The association is calling for stronger measures, including treating telecom theft as economic sabotage rather than petty crime.
It also urged security agencies to intensify efforts through arrests, prosecutions, and convictions, while cracking down on informal markets where stolen telecom equipment is allegedly resold.
Without decisive action, stakeholders warn that the ongoing cycle of theft, service disruption, and rising costs could further weaken Nigeria’s telecommunications sector at a time when demand for reliable connectivity continues to grow rapidly.