Nigerian telecoms giant, Globacom (Glo), has confirmed a major network outage affecting users across the Northern region of Nigeria, following multiple fibre cuts on key transmission routes. The disruption, which began around noon on Monday, has impacted mobile services in Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Bauchi, FCT Abuja, and several other states.
Multiple Fibre Cuts Disrupt Voice and Data Services
According to Glo’s official statement on X (formerly Twitter), the outage was caused by multiple fibre cuts across various transmission channels linking the northern network grid. As a result, voice and data services have been significantly affected, leaving millions of subscribers unable to make calls or access the internet.
The company disclosed that the outage began in Kano, Zamfara, and Katsina at 12:03 p.m., before spreading to Jos, Kaduna, Bauchi, Zaria, and Abuja later in the afternoon.
“Our technical team is working tirelessly to restore full connectivity and ensure services are brought back as quickly as possible,”
— Glo statement on X
Glo Promises Swift Restoration
Glo reassured customers that repair efforts are underway, with technicians deployed to affected transmission routes. The company said it is prioritising service restoration while investigating the root cause of the multiple cuts.
The incident adds to a growing trend of telecom infrastructure vandalism and fibre damage in Nigeria, which continues to threaten internet connectivity and the nation’s push for a digital economy.
Nigeria Records Over 19,000 Fibre Cuts in 2025
Recent data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals that the telecom industry experienced 19,384 fibre cuts between January and August 2025 alone. The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, described the situation as “alarming,” noting that each cut represents service disruption for millions of Nigerians and financial losses running into billions of naira.
The federal government has since classified telecom infrastructure, including fibre lines, towers, base stations, and data centres, as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) to ensure better protection against vandalism.
Mounting Costs for Telecom Operators
Industry data shows that Nigerian telecom companies spent over $23 million in 2023 to repair fibre cuts. By mid-2025, vandalism incidents had risen above 35,000, with the NCC warning that the issue continues to undermine internet access and national productivity.
Experts say Nigeria must urgently adopt stronger protection measures and enforcement if it hopes to achieve a resilient and sustainable digital economy.
