The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has acknowledged significant quality of service challenges affecting mobile network users in Abuja, attributing these issues primarily to disruptions in diesel supply at critical telecommunications infrastructure sites. The outages and degraded service experienced by subscribers, particularly those of MTN and Airtel, are directly linked to these supply problems.

These disruptions specifically impact IHS Nigeria Limited, a major colocation and tower infrastructure provider responsible for powering base stations for mobile network operators in the affected areas. According to the NCC, the current service challenges stem from the activities of the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA), which reportedly interrupted diesel supplies to various telecommunications towers, leading to widespread network outages across the capital.

Telecoms networks in Nigeria are heavily reliant on diesel-powered generators to maintain the operation of base stations, a necessity driven by the unreliability of the national grid electricity. Tower companies like IHS own and operate these base stations, providing essential power, security, and maintenance services to mobile operators that deliver voice and data services to consumers.

The implications of these supply hitches are far-reaching, directly affecting millions of Nigerians and the stability of the digital economy. Quality network service is increasingly vital for daily business activities, and disruptions undermine Nigeria's broadband expansion targets and digital inclusion goals, particularly in rural areas, while also posing risks to national security.

In response, the NCC has affirmed its commitment to addressing the situation, stating that it is actively engaging with major industry stakeholders and licensees, including oil suppliers, to resolve the diesel supply issues and explore sustainable solutions. The Commission is facilitating dialogue between affected service providers and other parties involved, urging collaborative efforts to swiftly remove the bottlenecks affecting critical telecommunications infrastructure. The NCC has also created a portal to track telecom service disruptions and has urged Abuja residents to exercise patience, assuring them that steps are being taken to restore normal service as soon as possible.

This is not an isolated incident, as diesel scarcity has consistently caused service outages for Nigerian telcos, with historical warnings dating back to 2015 from operators like MTN. Beyond diesel supply problems, the telecommunications industry in Nigeria faces other significant challenges, including widespread fibre cuts—with approximately 19,000 recorded in just eight months—and general vandalism of infrastructure. Earlier in August, a similar oil supply blockage due to industrial action was resolved through interventions by the NCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).