The exercise is part of MTN’s ongoing effort to improve service reliability and strengthen its fibre infrastructure in northern Nigeria. The work will focus on a fibre cutover on a newly relocated cable segment between AFCOT and Bawo Village. The upgrade will replace previously damaged spans and reduce multiple joints, which have been affecting optical performance and network stability over time.
Areas Likely to Be Affected
MTN identified the specific areas that will experience service disruptions during the maintenance window. In Kano State, Nasarawa LGA will be impacted, while Adamawa State will see interruptions in Girei, Song, Mubi North, Hong, Gombi, Fufore, Mubi South, Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Chibok, and Yola North. In Borno State, Askira/Uba and Shani are included in the maintenance plan.
The company explained that services across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 10 enterprise connections will be unavailable during the operation due to the linear and unprotected nature of the fibre route.
Part of a Larger Infrastructure Upgrade
This maintenance follows an earlier network restoration exercise conducted in August 2025 along the same AFCOT–Bawo fibre route. The current intervention is described as a more comprehensive upgrade aimed at eliminating long-term faults and ensuring more stable connectivity for customers in the affected regions.
MTN acknowledged that the temporary disruptions may inconvenience subscribers but expressed gratitude for customer understanding. “MTN regrets any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates customers’ understanding,” the company said in a statement.
Wider Context: Fibre Cuts and National Concerns
The northern maintenance comes amid a broader challenge faced by telecom operators in Nigeria. Fibre cuts continue to cause frequent service outages and network disruptions across multiple states. Just recently, residents in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara experienced network blackouts due to simultaneous fibre cuts affecting MTN and 9mobile.
In August, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), highlighted the severity of the situation, revealing that MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, and other operators now experience an average of 1,100 fibre cuts weekly. The NCC has responded with a multi-pronged strategy, including technical enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with national security agencies.
Telecom infrastructure in Nigeria has also been officially designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) under Section 3 of the Cybersecurity Act, a move by President Bola Tinubu that places a national security responsibility on operators, service providers, civil society, and citizens.
As the sector works to modernize and protect its networks, customers in the affected northern states are advised to plan for brief service interruptions this weekend while MTN completes its fibre upgrades.