The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo Command, has warned that damage to fibre-optic infrastructure during construction and civil works would henceforth be treated as a criminal offence.
The State Commandant of the corps, Saidi Akintayo, issued the warning at a news conference in Benin, on Wednesday.
Akintayo warned contractors and utility firms to comply with strict protective measures or face prosecution.
He frowned at the increasing cases of cable damage linked to excavation and road construction across the state.
The telecommunications fibre networks, he said, were now officially designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure under federal regulations, thereby elevating their protection status and legal consequences for violations.
“The destruction of fibre infrastructure, whether deliberate or accidental, will no longer be treated as a minor incident.
“It is a serious offence with legal consequences,” he said.
Akintayo explained that fibre-optic systems form the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy, enabling secured communications, financial transactions, emergency response coordination, and government operations.
He said that any disruption could undermine national security, public safety, and economic stability.
He said that the directive aligned with guidance from the Office of the National Security Adviser, which had prioritised the protection of national digital assets amid expanding infrastructure development nationwide.
The NSCDC chief, therefore, urged contractors and project handlers to conduct proper site assessments and coordinate with relevant authorities before excavation to prevent accidental damage.
According to him, negligence or failure to comply with established procedures will attract legal sanctions.
He, however, reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to stepped-up monitoring and enforcement, warning that the era of treating fibre-optic damage as routine construction mishaps was over.
“With the growing importance of digital connectivity to national security and economic survival, protecting fibre infrastructure is no longer optional; it is mandatory,” Akintayo said.
