The telecommunications sector in Nigeria is on high alert as the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) warns that a diesel supply crisis is pushing the nation toward an unprecedented network shutdown. In a powerful statement released on Sunday, 23 February 2025, ATCON President Tony Emoekpere highlighted that the ongoing strike by petroleum tanker drivers is severely disrupting fuel deliveries critical to maintaining telecom base stations. This disruption now places mobile and internet services for millions of Nigerians at serious risk.
According to Emoekpere, the strike stems from persistent harassment by police officers in Lagos State, which has halted truck loading and fuel distribution. With many telecom sites now operating on dangerously low diesel reserves, the situation threatens not only routine communication services but also the reliability of emergency response systems nationwide. “This goes beyond telecom—it is a national emergency that could paralyze economic activities and compromise public safety,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
Emoekpere called on the Lagos and Ogun state governments to intervene immediately and facilitate the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators. He emphasized that the fallout from this crisis could extend far beyond the telecom industry, potentially crippling critical economic and public safety functions. ATCON also urged security agencies and petroleum unions to work together swiftly to resolve the issue before prolonged disruptions inflict lasting damage on businesses and individual livelihoods.
As the diesel crisis deepens, the nation braces for the possibility of a total network shutdown that would disrupt vital communication channels.
