How Crumbling Infrastructure Is Breaking Nigeria’s Mobile Networks

Nigeria’s persistent poor network connectivity, especially in major cities like Abuja, is once again in the spotlight, exposing the deep structural weaknesses in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

While subscribers often blame mobile network operators for dropped calls, slow internet speeds and complete service outages, recent developments show that the problem runs much deeper than service providers alone.

At the heart of the crisis is Nigeria’s fragile infrastructure, particularly the heavy dependence on diesel-powered telecom facilities in a country with unreliable electricity supply.

Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), recently acknowledged the service challenges affecting mobile users in Abuja. In a statement issued on Friday, December 12, 2025, the Commission confirmed that the poor quality of service experienced by subscribers was linked to disruptions in diesel supply to key telecom infrastructure sites.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission acknowledges the quality of service challenges being experienced in Abuja, which have impacted the quality of experience of telecommunications subscribers,” the NCC said.

The Commission explained that the outages were connected to disruptions affecting IHS Nigeria Limited, one of the country’s largest tower infrastructure providers. IHS owns and operates thousands of base stations nationwide, supplying power, security and maintenance services to mobile network operators such as MTN and Airtel. These base stations are the backbone of mobile connectivity, enabling voice calls, data services and internet access for millions of Nigerians.

Advertisement

In an ideal setting, telecom base stations should be powered by stable public electricity. However, Nigeria’s weak national grid has forced operators to rely almost entirely on diesel-powered generators to keep networks running around the clock. This dependence on diesel has turned fuel availability into a critical factor in determining whether Nigerians can make calls, browse the internet or conduct digital transactions.

According to the NCC, the immediate cause of the Abuja outages was the disruption of diesel supplies to telecom sites by the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA). The regulator said the action directly affected IHS-operated towers, leading to widespread service failures across parts of the capital.

“The challenges are a result of the activities of the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association, which disrupted diesel supplies to sites with the attendant telecommunications services outages in Abuja,” the Commission said.

This development highlights a troubling reality. In Nigeria, access to mobile connectivity, which has become essential for banking, education, healthcare and business, can be crippled by disputes in the fuel supply chain. For many residents of Abuja, the outages meant missed work opportunities, stalled online payments, interrupted virtual meetings and disrupted access to emergency services.

The NCC said it is working with industry stakeholders to restore services and prevent a repeat of the situation. It stressed that reliable power supply is critical to delivering quality telecommunications services across the country.

“The NCC is actively engaging with relevant stakeholders to address the diesel supply issues and explore sustainable solutions,” the statement noted, adding that the Commission is facilitating dialogue between affected service providers and other parties involved.

Advertisement

While the regulator’s intervention is important, the incident exposes a long-standing and unresolved problem. Diesel-related disruptions are not new to Nigeria’s telecom industry. As far back as 2015, MTN warned subscribers that “diesel scarcity in most parts of Nigeria is posing a significant threat to quality of service.” A decade later, the same issue continues to undermine connectivity, despite massive growth in data consumption and digital dependence.

Nigeria’s telecom sector has expanded rapidly, driven by population growth, smartphone adoption and increasing reliance on mobile internet. Yet, the infrastructure supporting this growth has not evolved at the same pace. Thousands of base stations still depend on diesel generators that are expensive to run, vulnerable to supply shocks and exposed to vandalism and theft. When diesel prices rise or supply chains break down, network quality suffers almost immediately.

Diesel supply, however, is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Telecom operators in Nigeria face multiple infrastructure challenges that frequently disrupt service. Fibre-optic cable damage, commonly referred to as fibre cuts, remains a major problem. This year alone, telecom companies recorded about 19,000 fibre cuts within eight months. These cuts are often caused by road construction, vandalism, illegal excavations and poor coordination between telecom operators and government agencies.

Each fibre cut can knock out service across entire communities, sometimes for days. In many cases, operators struggle to access sites quickly due to security concerns or bureaucratic delays. Although the NCC has introduced a portal to track telecom service disruptions, outages still occur frequently, and accountability remains limited.

Earlier this year, MTN experienced a major nationwide outage that left many subscribers with no connection at all. The operator did not provide a clear explanation for the incident, further frustrating users who rely on mobile networks for daily activities. While the NCC has taken steps to improve transparency through its disruption tracking platform, many Nigerians still feel powerless when services fail.

At a broader level, Nigeria’s telecom challenges reflect the country’s wider infrastructure deficit. Reliable electricity remains elusive, forcing critical sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare and manufacturing to depend on private power generation. This increases operating costs, which are eventually passed on to consumers through higher tariffs and poorer service quality.

Advertisement

In addition, the lack of coordinated infrastructure planning means telecom assets are constantly at risk. Roads are built or repaired without regard for underground fibre cables. Base stations are shut down due to community disputes, multiple taxation by local authorities or security threats. In some areas, telecom facilities are vandalised or destroyed during civil unrest.

These problems raise serious concerns about Nigeria’s digital future. As the country pushes for greater financial inclusion, digital governance and a tech-driven economy, poor network connectivity threatens to widen inequality. Those who can afford alternative connections or live in well-served urban areas cope better, while millions in underserved regions are left behind.

For Abuja residents affected by the recent outages, the NCC appealed for patience, assuring subscribers that efforts are underway to restore normal service.

“We thank telecommunications subscribers for their understanding and patience during this period and reaffirm our commitment to delivering high-quality telecommunications services nationwide,” the Commission said.

However, patience alone will not fix Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure. Experts argue that long-term solutions must include reliable public power supply, stronger protection of telecom infrastructure, better coordination between government agencies and a shift toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources for base stations.

Some operators have begun exploring solar and hybrid power solutions, but high initial costs and security risks have slowed adoption. Without deliberate policy support and investment, diesel will likely remain the backbone of telecom power in Nigeria, leaving networks vulnerable to fuel shortages and industrial disputes.

Ultimately, the Abuja outage is not just a temporary service disruption. It is a symptom of a deeper infrastructure crisis that continues to undermine Nigeria’s connectivity. Until the country addresses its power challenges, protects critical telecom assets and modernises its infrastructure framework, poor network quality will remain a frustrating reality for millions of Nigerians