The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has confirmed that telecom service quality is declining across parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, due to a severe vulnerability in the nation’s critical infrastructure chain: reliance on diesel fuel.
The disruptions are directly linked to ongoing actions by the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association, which have interfered with the delivery of diesel to essential telecom sites, including those managed by major infrastructure providers like IHS Nigeria Limited.
The Domino Effect on Connectivity
Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure, comprising cell towers and network facilities, relies heavily on diesel-powered generators to maintain uninterrupted operations in the face of unstable public power supply. The resulting fuel shortage has triggered a domino effect, leading to:
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Service Interruptions: Telecom sites failing to operate.
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Degraded Network Performance: Slower data services and poor voice call quality.
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Economic Impact: Disrupting daily operations, customer engagement, and digital transactions for businesses and individuals reliant on stable connectivity.
NCC’s Intervention
The NCC acknowledged the inconvenience caused to subscribers and affirmed the critical nature of restoring full service given telecommunications’ importance to economic activities and public services.
The commission has initiated proactive steps to address the crisis, including:
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Facilitating Discussions: Engaging affected service providers and the relevant stakeholders (oil and gas suppliers) to ensure a swift resolution of the diesel supply issues.
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Prioritizing Restoration: Working closely with government agencies and operators to stabilize services as quickly as possible.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring high-quality telecommunications services nationwide, thanking subscribers for their patience during the disruption.
