Rising attacks on telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria are fueling concerns about the stability of network services ahead of the 2027 general elections, with industry stakeholders warning that the disruption could undermine election operations.
The Nigerian Communications Commission said criminal activity targeting telecom facilities has intensified, with theft and vandalism reported in at least 14 states. Stolen assets in 2025 alone included 152 generators and 504 batteries, while diesel theft and frequent fiber cuts have further weakened network reliability.
Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission depends heavily on stable telecommunications for coordinating election logistics and transmitting results through its digital platforms, including the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
Telecom infrastructure also supports voter accreditation, communication among election officials and security agencies, and the dissemination of election updates nationwide.
Industry leaders warn the scale of attacks is no longer a routine operational issue. Tony Emoekpere, president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria said losses of critical assets are already translating into service disruptions.
“When sites go down, you immediately see increased call drops, poorer voice quality and slower or completely unavailable data services,” Emoekpere said, adding that rural areas are particularly vulnerable to total outages.
Data from the regulator show that by late 2025, fiber cuts averaged about 1,100 incidents weekly, while diesel theft was recorded in more than 1,300 cases. Between January and February 2026, additional thefts included 64 batteries, 17 generators and a sharp rise in cable vandalism.
Affected states include Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Osun and Kwara, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Technology analyst Toye Apampa said the damage could weaken not only election systems but broader digital services, warning that Nigeria’s infrastructure remains fragile despite existing frameworks.
Civil society groups and opposition figures have raised concerns over the implications for the electoral process. Omenazu Jackson of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights alleged the attacks could be aimed at undermining elections, though he provided no evidence.
Auwal Rafsanjani, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre said the government bears responsibility for protecting infrastructure and ensuring credible elections, urging stronger action from security agencies.
Debo Adeniran of the Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership warned that continued vandalism could compound existing challenges around electronic transmission of results. He called for contingency plans, including satellite systems and secure manual transmission methods.
Opposition parties also expressed concern. Bolaji Abdullahi of the African Democratic Congress said inadequate telecom infrastructure could weaken both election integrity and national security coordination.
However, some political leaders cautioned against linking the attacks directly to the elections. Representatives of the Labour Party Nigeria said the issue should not be politicized, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement against vandalism.
Nigeria’s electoral commission acknowledged the concerns. Victoria Eta-Messi, a spokesperson for INEC, said the commission is assessing the situation and will outline measures to address the challenges.
The attacks come as Nigeria prepares for elections in 2027, with millions expected to rely on digital systems for transparent and timely results transmission.
