IHS Towers and NCC to resolve data and voice service disruption by striking oil workers

The ongoing oil supply blockage threatening to disrupt Nigeria’s data and voice service is set to be resolved. This is according to IHS Towers, the company that keeps over 16,000 base stations running for the day-to-day running of telecom services.

A report by Punch News revealed that IHS Towers is strategically working with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and relevant security agencies to resolve the diesel blockage by striking oil sector unions, revealing that the matter is already in court. 

The disruption, if allowed to progress, could lead to service disruption with millions of Nigerian subscribers prevented from performing essential services on their mobile network lines. Nigerian Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9Mobile, heavily depend on diesel-powered generators to power their towers owing to the nation’s epileptic power supply.

Earlier this week, members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) blocked access to key diesel depots in Lagos, Kaduna, and Koko in Delta State, following allegations by IHS that two companies linked to NOGASA were involved in diesel theft.

Also Read: Call and data service disruption looms as oil workers strike threatens 16,000 telcom sites.

In another development, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) issued a warning to the Federal Government that a diesel supply crisis, triggered by protests from oil workers, is threatening to shut down mobile network operations nationwide.

The Chairman of the association, Engineer Gbenga Adebayo, urged the unions to resolve disputes through legal and contractual channels, stressing that disruptions to telecom services could have serious economic and security implications.

“While ALTON does not interfere in disputes between its members and third parties, we are gravely concerned about the wider implications of this action on national infrastructure and public safety,” he noted.

He stressed the severity of the situation, saying that the ongoing disruption in diesel supply is critically affecting telecom operations. Without immediate intervention, many telecom sites could run out of fuel within days, which would cause significant service disruptions, leaving millions disconnected. 

On the other end, IHS Tower reiterated its commitment to keeping Nigeria’s critical information infrastructure running and providing its customers with strong network uptime despite the ongoing dispute.

Threats facing Data and voice services in Nigeria

The country’s telecom industry is currently dealing with several threats that have the potential to hinder its ability to connect millions of Nigerians. Issues such as infrastructure vandalism, rising operational costs and now the diesel supply blockage are all causes for alarm.

Industry data revealed that telecom sites consume an average of 40 million litres of diesel monthly to keep over 53,000 base stations operational. Each base station typically requires two generators to ensure 24-hour connectivity for Nigeria’s over 200 million mobile subscribers. As a result of this, annual spending exceeded $350m, where costs are about 37% higher for rural and off-grid sites, where dependence on diesel is strongest.

However, leading telecom operators such as MTN and Airtel are making strategic plans to provide alternatives that will cut fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions. This includes deploying hybrid energy systems combining solar panels and lithium batteries.

The initiative could reduce operating costs by 30% to 50%, according to the Communications Regulator and the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).

Regarding infrastructure vandalism, the NCC recently raised an alarm that Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is facing an alarming surge in sabotage, with an average of 1,744 attacks recorded weekly across the country.

This trend includes approximately 1,100 fibre cuts, 545 incidents of access denial, and 99 cases of theft, posing a significant threat to service quality, network expansion, and national security.

These negative activities pose direct implications for millions of Nigerians and the stability of the digital economy.  It also undermines Nigeria’s broadband expansion targets and digital inclusion goals, especially in remote areas.