By Juliet Umeh
A major disruption to mobile and internet services looms in Lagos and Ogun States as the ongoing strike by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has cut off diesel supply to critical telecom infrastructure.
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, has sounded the alarm, warning that without urgent intervention, millions of Nigerians could face communication blackouts that would affect businesses, emergency response services, and daily activities.
ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, in a statement over the weekend, linked the crisis to the persistent harassment of tanker drivers by police officers in Lagos, which led to an indefinite strike halting fuel transportation. “With truck loading operations and fuel movement suspended, telecom sites are running critically low on diesel,” he said.
Telecommunications infrastructure relies heavily on diesel-powered generators to maintain network uptime, especially given Nigeria’s unstable power supply. “If this crisis is not addressed immediately, essential services such as banking transactions, security communications, and emergency medical responses will be severely impacted,” Emoekpere cautioned.
The association is urging the Governors of Lagos and Ogun States to intervene swiftly by ensuring telecom operators gain access to diesel supplies. ATCON also called on all relevant stakeholders, including security agencies and petroleum unions, to find an immediate resolution to prevent a network shutdown that could paralyze economic and social activities in the region.
