The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has revealed that the telecommunication services in Lagos and Ogun states are at risk due to the ongoing strike action by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
In a statement on Sunday, Tony Emoekpere, president of ATCON, the strike which began on Sunday morning is in protest of the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State. He noted that all truck loading operations and movements have been suspended indefinitely, pending further notice.
According to him, this strike is disrupting diesel supply to base stations. Diesel is crucial for powering telecom infrastructure, like base stations, which rely on generators because of unreliable grid electricity. Industry data estimates that operators use an average of 40 million litres of diesel per month to power telecom sites.
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“The ongoing strike is severely disrupting the diesel supply to our members’ base stations in Lagos and Ogun States, causing significant concern as numerous telecom sites are now critically low on diesel, threatening service disruptions,” Emoekpere stated.
The association has called for the Governors of Lagos and Ogun States to de-escalate the situation and facilitate access to diesel from depots.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” ATCON’s president added.
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