Nigeria’s telecom sector faces collapse as diesel crisis worsens

A severe diesel supply crisis, sparked by an ongoing strike by Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), is threatening to cripple Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, potentially cutting off millions of mobile and internet users from essential services.

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has issued an urgent warning, emphasizing that if the strike continues, Nigeria could face a nationwide network blackout with devastating consequences for communication, businesses, emergency response systems, and economic activities.

Speaking on the crisis, ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, disclosed that the strike, which began due to the alleged harassment of tanker drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has completely halted truck loading operations and fuel movements.

“This strike has effectively stopped all truck loading operations and fuel deliveries,” Emoekpere stated.

Telecom base stations across the country, which depend on diesel-powered generators for uninterrupted network operations, are running on dangerously low fuel reserves.

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Emoekpere warned that if the impasse is not swiftly resolved, the consequences will be catastrophic, with widespread service disruptions affecting millions of Nigerians.

“The situation could quickly spiral into a full-scale network outage, affecting essential services such as mobile and internet access, banking transactions, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications,” he warned.

ATCON has urgently called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene by facilitating the immediate release of diesel from depots to telecom operators. The association is also seeking swift action from security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis before it paralyzes the nation’s communication infrastructure.

“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.

The association emphasized that the uninterrupted operation of telecom networks is critical to Nigeria’s economy, as businesses, financial institutions, healthcare facilities, and security agencies rely on stable communication infrastructure.

If fuel supplies remain disrupted, ATCON warns that the nation could witness:

With Nigeria’s telecom industry serving over 220 million mobile subscribers and providing critical connectivity for banking, healthcare, and security services, an extended disruption in diesel supply could plunge the nation into an unprecedented digital and economic crisis.

ATCON is urging all stakeholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), security agencies, and government officials, to immediately resolve the ongoing dispute to prevent a total breakdown of telecom services.

As the crisis deepens, millions of Nigerians anxiously wait for a resolution, hoping that authorities will act swiftly to prevent a nationwide telecommunications disaster.