NSCDC warns construction firms in Kano
NSCDC warns construction firms against damaging fibre-optic cables in Kano as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Kano State Command issued a fresh warning to construction companies and property developers over the growing damage to underground fibre-optic cables during excavation and building projects. 
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SC Ibrahim Abdullahi, the corps said it is increasingly concerned about what it described as accidental, and in some cases negligent, destruction of underground fibre routes across the state. 
The statement said the NSCDC, under the leadership of Commandant Mohammed Hassan Agalama, is putting all contractors on notice: damaging fibre-optic cables and other protected infrastructure during construction will no longer be treated as a routine “mistake” that ends with apologies. 
That is the central message of the briefing: NSCDC warns construction firms against damaging fibre-optic cables in Kano, and it is linking this warning to real disruptions that residents and businesses already complain about when networks drop.
Why NSCDC says the issue is urgent
According to the NSCDC Kano Command, damaged fibre installations have been triggering a chain reaction of service failures. The corps listed disruptions to telecommunication services, internet connectivity, banking operations, and other essential services relied upon by households and businesses across Kano State. 
This matters because fibre cuts don’t only affect phone calls. In modern cities, fibre is the invisible pipe behind point-of-sale payments, ATM connectivity, interbank transfers, emergency response coordination, and the basic communications backbone that both government and private sector depend on.
So when NSCDC warns construction firms against damaging fibre-optic cables in Kano, it is arguing that contractors are not just damaging cables; they are disrupting the economic and security rhythm of the city.
https://ogelenews.ng/nscdc-warns-construction-firms-in-kano
The compliance steps NSCDC is demanding
The statement did not stop at warnings. It set out a practical checklist for construction firms:
1. Get approvals and right-of-way clearance before excavation begins. 
2. Liaise with relevant utility service providers to identify and map underground fibre routes. 
3. Ensure the presence of technical representatives of telecom operators during major excavation works. 
4. Adopt best practices and deploy modern equipment to reduce accidental damage. 
This is the most actionable part of the story, and it’s why NSCDC warns construction firms against damaging fibre-optic cables in Kano should not be written as a one-line security memo. It is, effectively, an operational directive to contractors on how to avoid disruption and legal trouble.
The legal warning: “arrest and prosecution”
NSCDC said fibre-optic cables and telecom installations are designated as Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, protected by law. It warned that any individual or corporate body found culpable of wilful destruction, negligence, or sabotage will be arrested and prosecuted. 
The Kano Command added that it will intensify surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement operations across construction sites to ensure compliance, and urged stakeholders and service providers to report suspicious activity or unauthorised excavation near fibre routes to the nearest NSCDC office. 
So, NSCDC warns construction firms against damaging fibre-optic cables in Kano with a clear enforcement threat: the corps is preparing to treat avoidable fibre cuts as offences, not mere contractor “incidents.”
Wider national context: it’s not only Kano
Kano’s warning fits into a broader national push. In recent weeks, NCC and NSCDC have issued joint warnings across Nigeria that construction-related fibre damage will attract prosecution and tougher enforcement, as authorities try to reduce recurring network outages linked to excavation and civil works. 
PUNCH also reported previously that MTN Nigeria disclosed 9,218 fibre cuts in 2025, a figure that operators say reflects persistent weaknesses around infrastructure protection and coordination with road and construction projects. 
This context strengthens the Kano story: NSCDC warns construction firms against damaging fibre-optic cables in Kano at a time regulators and security agencies are under pressure to show they can protect telecom infrastructure, especially as more services move online.
What contractors should do next
For firms actively working in Kano, the safest approach is simple and practical:
• Treat fibre route checks like you treat water and gas lines: verify before digging. 
• Request route mapping support from relevant service providers and insist on technical supervision during heavy excavation. 
• Document approvals and right-of-way clearances so you are covered if disputes arise. 
And for residents and businesses, the NSCDC is asking for cooperation through reporting: if you see unauthorised digging in sensitive corridors, report it early. 
Bottom line: NSCDC warns construction firms against damaging fibre-optic cables in Kano because fibre cuts are now treated as a threat to economic life and critical services, not just telecom inconvenience.
https://punchng.com/nscdc-warns-construction-firms-against-damaging-fibre-optic-cables-in-kano
