*Bennett Okorie, National President of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria confirms the members have been directed to resume petroleum supplies to IHS Towers, and other network providers in the telecoms ecosystem but only for a week

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to days of supply blockade over reported debt overhang, the leadership of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) has directed members to resume petroleum supplies to IHS Towers, the telecoms infrastructure managers, and other industry stakeholders in the country.

绿帽献妻 reports Mr. Bennett Okorie, National President of NOGASA, disclosed this development at a press conference Saturday, August 9, 2025, in Abuja, FCT.

Okorie confirmed that the Association earlier, had directed its members to stop fuel supplies to IHS, and others in the telecoms space over debts he noted run into billions of Naira.

The President clarified that the Association directed members to resume business with IHS and other telecoms operators fur seven days in order to avert network shutdowns in the telecoms ecosystem.

绿帽献妻 reports IHS Towers is a major player in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, particularly as a provider of tower sites for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

The company owns and operates a significant portion of the West African country’s collocated telecoms towers, with over 16,000 towers and 15,000 km of fiber deployed across Nigeria.

NCC, ONSA’s intervention yielding results, says Okorie

Emphasising the rationale for directing members of NOGASA to resume fuel supplies to IHS and other Telcos, Okorie stated: 鈥淚nterventions by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Communications Commission (NCC) assured us the issue will be resolved amicably from Monday.

鈥淚n the interest of energy security and Nigerians, we have resolved to resume our services immediately at the affected depots.”

The National President also affirmed that the NEC of NOGASA has “resolved to suspend our withdrawal of services for seven days to IHS.”

But Okorie said: 鈥淗owever, if the matter is not resolved within the seven days, we will resume service withdrawal without further notice.

鈥淎ll suppliers are directed to resume business with IHS immediately, providing 24-hour round-the-clock services if possible, to make up for lost time.”

He, therefore, warned the industry stakeholders that if the debts owed the members remain unpaid within seven days, NOGASA members would resume withdrawal of its fuel supplies without prior notice.

Genesis of industrial dispute between NOGASA, IHS and Telcos

Earlier, the face-off between the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and the Labour unions had threatened to disrupt service delivery to millions of telecoms consumers in the last few days.

It is noted that MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Airtel Networks, Globacom Limited, and 9mobile, now known as T2, largely depend on diesel-powered generators to keep their telecoms towers running due to unreliable electricity supply to several parts of the country.

Observers as well said any prolonged supply disruption risks cutting voice and data services for millions of consumers in the country鈥檚 $75 billion telecoms market.

Previously, members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria had blocked access to key diesel depots in Lagos, Kaduna, and Koko, in Delta State.

It was gathered the disruption in the fuel supply chain to Telcos followed allegations by IHS that two companies linked to NOGASA were involved in diesel theft.

Underscoring the importance of the sector to the Nigerian economy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2024, had signed an instrument that has designated telecommunications assets as part of the country鈥檚 Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

Under Nigerian law, therefore, telecoms facilities having been classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure, any intentional interference with these could attract penalties from relevant authorities.

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