The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has sounded an urgent alarm, calling on the government and security agencies to intervene as escalating vandalism and theft threaten critical telecom infrastructure across the country.
In a statement released to the press on Thursday, ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, warned that the surge in coordinated attacks on telecom facilities could result in a catastrophic nationwide network collapse if immediate action is not taken.
Adebayo revealed that between May and July 2025, telecom cell sites in Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja were targeted in a series of destructive incidents.
Telecom operators reported that the sabotage has led to widespread service disruptions, extended network outages, and severe congestion, cutting off millions of Nigerians from essential mobile and broadband connectivity.
The operators emphasized that continued attacks on telecom infrastructure pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s economic resilience and national security, as the sector underpins critical services in banking, security, healthcare, and education.
