NCC Calls for Improved Collaboration to Address Fibre Cuts

Oghenevwede Ohworiole in Abuja 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has blamed the high rate of fibre cuts during road constructions on inadequate collaboration amongst major stakeholders, especially with the Ministry of Works.

The commission said such collaboration would reduce the high rate of fibre cuts that usually occur during road construction.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, while speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on the protection of fibre optic cables, with the theme: Secure today: Connect Tomorrow’ in Abuja, said there was need for greater collaborations between major stakeholders. 

Maida stated that there were over 5000 fibre cuts in the last six months during road constructions and rehabilitation across the country, due to inadequate collaboration.

“In the first six months of this year alone, over 5,000 fiber cut incidents were reported from road excavation, construction, and related civil work. Many occurred because there was little or no coordination between works before they began, or before the first shovel entered the ground. For this, I must emphasize that this is not about assigning blame,” Maida said.

The Director of Critical National Standards and Infrastructure Protection, Office of the National Security Adviser, (ONSA), Air Vice Marshall (AVM), Effion Ewa, in his speech, said: “The objective of the engagement is to foster stronger collaboration amongst critical stakeholders whose collective actions have directly impacted, and have a direct impact on the future of Nigeria’s digital future.”