The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) has resumed diesel supply to telecom tower operator IHS and other telecom companies after halting deliveries over unpaid debts running into billions of naira.
NOGASA’s National President, Bennett Okorie, announced the decision at a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, attributing the move to interventions by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which assured that the dispute would be resolved from Monday.
The association had earlier suspended supplies, warning that the move could disrupt mobile network availability nationwide.
Okorie said the suspension would last seven days, during which suppliers are expected to provide round-the-clock deliveries to replenish fuel stock at affected telecom sites. He warned that if the debts were not settled within the period, members would withdraw services without further notice.
The crisis began after the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) warned on Thursday that more than 16,000 telecom base stations could shut down due to blocked access to diesel loading depots in Kaduna, Lagos, and Delta.
ALTON said the blockade, involving members of NOGASA and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), was linked to allegations by IHS of diesel misappropriation against two NOGASA member companies, a matter currently under investigation.
According to ALTON, the affected sites power mobile and internet services for millions of Nigerians and support essential operations such as banking transactions, hospital communications, emergency response systems, and national security. The body had called for urgent intervention from the ONSA, NCC, and other stakeholders to avert a potential nationwide communications blackout.
