The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria ALTON has urgently called for intervention from the government and security forces as a surge in vandalism and theft aimed at critical infrastructure risks disrupting services across the country.
Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of ALTON, said in a press release on Thursday that the increase in attacks on telecommunications facilities could result in a nationwide network collapse if not promptly addressed.
"We are working tirelessly to improve service quality nationwide, but these acts of sabotage are setting us back", the telecom executive said.
From May to July 2025, numerous instances of vandalism were reported at telecom cell sites in Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Operators have reported that these targeted assaults have resulted in service disruptions, prolonged network outages, and significant congestion, leaving millions of Nigerians without reliable connectivity.