The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Rivers State Command, has warned contractors to carry out proper checks and consultations before excavation to avoid damaging underground telecommunications infrastructure.
The State Commandant, Joachin Okafor, gave the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting in Rivers State, following a directive from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He said, “Contractors must carry out due diligence, consultation and verification before excavation to avoid damage to critical telecom infrastructure.”
The Commandant further warned that any form of deliberate or careless damage will attract legal consequences.
“Any arbitrary tampering or destruction of fibre-optic cables will be treated as sabotage and vandalism under the law.”
In a statement by the PRO, NSCDC Rivers State Command, SC Ihemnacho Umeado, telecom stakeholders at the meeting shared concerns over repeated losses caused by construction activities but agreed that better coordination could prevent such incidents.
The statement added that the telecom stakeholders resolved to adopt measures such as mapping telecom routes, joint verification before road projects, and improved communication with service providers to safeguard critical infrastructure.
