Nigeria telecom sector faces high complaints and fibre cuts

Nigeria's telecommunications sector faced significant operational challenges in the first half of 2026, characterized by high consumer dissatisfaction and frequent infrastructure damage.

Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals that major operators received a total of 413,587 consumer complaints between January and June. Airtel Nigeria recorded the highest volume with 228,992 complaints, accounting for approximately 55 per cent of the total. MTN followed with 124,405 complaints, while Globacom and T2mobile recorded 56,810 and 3,885 respectively. Despite the high volume, operators maintained high resolution rates, with Airtel resolving 99.38 per cent of its cases.

Simultaneously, the industry dealt with widespread infrastructure damage, recording 5,934 fibre-optic cable cuts during the same six-month period. This averaged roughly 65 incidents per day, costing operators approximately N2.2 billion in direct repairs. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the NCC have emphasized that these disruptions threaten critical national lifelines, including banking, healthcare, government services, and national security.