MTN to shut down 101 sites in Adamawa, Borno, Kano for Fibre Maintenance

Subscribers of MTN Nigeria in parts of Adamawa, Borno, and Kano states will experience temporary service disruption this weekend as the telecom giant carries out scheduled maintenance to repair a damaged fibre route.

In a notice issued on Friday, MTN said the exercise, slated for Saturday, August 24, 2025, will affect 101 sites across 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The two-hour operation, running from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM, will involve switching traffic to a newly installed fibre infrastructure along the AFCOT–Bawo Village route in Adamawa State.

According to the company, the intervention is necessary to permanently replace damaged fibre spans and enhance network stability. However, during the maintenance window, subscribers using 2G, 3G, and 4G services, as well as 10 enterprise customers, may experience brief interruptions in connectivity.

“Due to the linear and unprotected nature of the route, services will be interrupted during the maintenance window. The work will be carried out during daylight hours for security reasons,” MTN stated.

The affected areas include Girei, Song, Mubi North, Hong, Gombi, Fufore, Mubi South, Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Chibok, and Yola North LGAs in Adamawa; Askira/UBA and Shani LGAs in Borno; and Nasarawa LGA in Kano.

While apologising to customers, MTN assured that the upgrade is aimed at improving service quality and long-term reliability in the region.

The planned shutdown underscores the wider problem of persistent fibre cuts that cost network operators billions of naira in repairs annually.

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Recently, Airtel Nigeria’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adeniran, warned that the industry is recording an average of 43 fibre cuts daily. He blamed the trend on construction activities, vandalism, and poor coordination among stakeholders.

“These interruptions not only inconvenience consumers but also hinder businesses, delay government operations, and compromise public safety, particularly in emergencies,” Adeniran said. “Airtel Nigeria alone recorded 7,742 fibre cuts in just six months.”

In May 2025, residents of Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states were left without service after simultaneous fibre cuts hit both MTN and 9mobile networks.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has also raised alarm over the situation. Earlier this month, its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed that telecom operators now report an average of 1,100 fibre cuts nationwide every week.

Maida said the Commission has adopted a multi-pronged strategy involving technical enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with national security agencies.

Telecom infrastructure has already been designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) by President Bola Tinubu under Section 3 of the Cybersecurity Act, placing national security responsibilities on operators, government agencies, and citizens.