Thousands of telecom sites across Nigeria are at risk of shutting down after petroleum unions blocked diesel supplies in a dispute with infrastructure provider IHS Towers, telecom operators said on Thursday. Members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria on Tuesday blocked access to key diesel depots in Lagos, Kaduna, and Koko in Delta State, disrupting fuel distribution to thousands of telecom sites operated by IHS Towers. The blockade followed allegations by IHS that two companies linked to NOGASA were involved in diesel theft. Although the matter is reportedly under investigation, union members have halted deliveries of diesel, a vital energy source for more than 16,000 telecom towers in a country where grid electricity remains unreliable at best. The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, said the group was gravely concerned about the broader implications of the blockade on national infrastructure and public safety. “While ALTON does not interfere in disputes between its members and third parties, we are gravely concerned about the wider implications of this action on national infrastructure and public safety,” he noted in a statement. The dispute has pinpointed the vulnerability of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, which relies heavily on diesel to power base stations in areas lacking stable grid electricity. A prolonged fuel disruption could trigger outages for mobile operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, with potentially severe consequences for businesses and consumers in one of Africa’s largest economies. Under Nigerian law, telecom infrastructure is classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure. ALTON warned that intentional disruption could have legal consequences. IHS has not responded to queries from The PUNCH seeking comment on the matter. The telcos urged the leadership of NUPENG and NOGASA to call their members to order and resolve disputes within lawful frameworks, rather than actions that could endanger public services. “Disputes must be resolved within the framework of lawful contracts and applicable legal processes, without resorting to actions that endanger the operations of an entire industry and the lives and livelihoods that depend on it,” Adebayo stated. Aside from vandalism, a major bottleneck in the sector, telcos face rising energy costs as they rely heavily on diesel to power mobile towers. The industry consumes more than 40 million litres of diesel each month, with annual spending exceeding $350m, according to industry data. Energy expenses are even higher at rural and off-grid tower sites, where power costs are estimated to be about 37 per cent more than in urban areas. The reliance on diesel not only inflates capital and operating expenditures but also exposes telecom infrastructure to risks such as fuel theft and equipment vandalism. ALTON also called on government authorities, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and other key stakeholders, to intervene swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating further. Despite the ongoing disruption, ALTON reaffirmed its members’ commitment to providing reliable, high-quality telecommunications services across the country. However, it cautioned that incidents like this severely undermine their ability to maintain network stability and meet service delivery expectations. “We extend our deep respect to NUPENG and NOGASA for their contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector and trust they will act responsibly to avoid further damage to critical national infrastructure,” the association concluded. To reduce energy bills and cut emissions, operators including Airtel and MTN are turning to hybrid solutions that combine solar power and lithium batteries. The NC C and GSMA estimate that shifting to renewable energy could lower operating costs by 30 per cent to 50 per cent, offering significant savings and environmental benefits.

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Abdullahi Ramat as the new Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Tinubu also nominated Abubakar Yusuf as the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs and Dr Fouad Animashun as Commissioner of Finance and Management Services for NERC. This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday. The statement noted that Ramat is a 39-year-old electrical engineer and administrator, with a PhD in Strategic Management, among other qualifications. It also said all the nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.  “However, to avoid a leadership vacuum in the critical regulatory agency, the President directed that Ramat assume office in acting capacity pending his screening by the Senate, as stipulated by the law.  “President Tinubu urged the new appointees to use their knowledge and experience to discharge their functions and work assiduously to advance the administration’s power sector vision,” it added.

The Onitsha Port in Anambra State was abuzz with excitement early this month as the first barge for the 2025 season, MV ZUPITOR/MV RB ALASKA, berthed at the port. The General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited, the concessionaire of the port, Mr Chris Mbonu, expressed his enthusiasm, describing the berthing of the barge as a positive milestone and a reminder of the pressing infrastructural gap. Mbonu explained that operations at the port were ongoing but largely seasonal, with activity peaking only during the rainy season when the River Niger’s water level rises sufficiently to allow vessel movement. He attributed the seasonal operation to the inconsistency of dredging and channel management of the River Niger, rather than a lack of infrastructure or demand. “The port is functional and ready to work 365 days a year. But without consistent dredging of the River Niger, we are forced to operate only when the waterway allows us—essentially turning a national asset into a seasonal stopgap,” Mbonu said. He likened a port without a navigable waterway to a car without fuel, adding that the current situation limits the port’s capacity to serve as a true inland logistics hub for Nigeria’s growing domestic and international trade. Mbonu appealed to the federal government, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, and private stakeholders to make regular dredging and maintenance of the River Niger a national economic priority. Regular dredging of the River Niger, according to Mbonu, would unlock year-round navigability, enabling barges, ferries, and larger vessels to move seamlessly between the southern seaports and the inland commercial centers. This would lower transportation and logistics costs, ease congestion on critical highways, reduce delivery timeframes and business inefficiencies, and increase investor confidence in inland logistics. The concessionaire also highlighted the potential impact on agriculture, tourism, and recreation, including helping farmers and aggregators move produce quickly and efficiently, encouraging investment in industrial and logistics infrastructure, promoting export trade, and supporting outbound movement of raw materials and agro-commodities via coastal ports. With proper dredging of the River Niger, Onitsha River Port could transform into a year-round, multimodal commercial hub, impacting several sectors and driving economic growth. Mbonu emphasized that the infrastructure is in place, the demand is evident, and the benefits are far-reaching; what is required now is government consistency and strategic investment to make inland waterway transport a pillar of Nigeria’s economic growth.

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives had busted a sophisticated inter-state car snatching syndicate with a foreign network. Twelve suspects were arrested, and 22 vehicles were recovered. The police said among the suspects was a dismissed police officer who had 11 cars as of the time of his arrest, while three ex-convicts who were hired into the illicit deal were also arrested by operatives. Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and sent to newsmen. Iringe-Koko said the arrest followed a major intelligence-led operation after one of their victims, identified as Enoch Daniel, had his Toyota Hiace snatched at gunpoint in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of the state. She further disclosed that one of the arrested suspects confessed to having earned N5 million in eight months as proceeds from the crime, saying some members of the syndicate were traced to Akwa Ibom and Kano states respectively, where they were apprehended. The statement reads, “In a major intelligence-led operation, the Rivers State Police Command successfully dismantled a sophisticated car theft syndicate operating across multiple states in Nigeria. The operation led to the arrest of twelve male suspects and the recovery of twenty-two (22) stolen vehicles. “The case began in September 2024 after a report by Mr. Enoch Daniel, who was dispossessed of his Toyota Hiace bus at Trailer Park, Onne. Swift investigations by the Command’s C4i Strike Force/Octopus team led to the arrest of: John Amadi, 40 years, from Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State; Nna Goodluck, 45 years, from Khana LGA, Rivers State. “Both ex-convicts confessed they were hired by one Godspower Okpa to snatch the vehicle using hammers and were paid ₦90,000 each. Further investigations extended to Oyigbo, Kano, and Akwa Ibom, resulting in the arrest of key suspects including Yakubu Abdullah (m), 35 years, apprehended in Oyigbo during a pickup; Abdulkareem Saminu (m), 35 years, caught with two stolen vehicles; and Adamu Musa (m), a dismissed police officer from Akwa Ibom, in possession of 11 vehicles. “The syndicate is coordinated by Falco Ibrahim (m), currently at large, whose network spans Rivers, Anambra, Taraba, Enugu, Borno, Kano, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States. Vehicles were smuggled via his agent, Shehu Shagari (m), now in custody, and sold in Cameroon either whole or as parts. “Other arrested members include: Onyekachi Igwe (m), 53 years, ex-convict and Port Harcourt liaison, who confessed to earning over ₦5 million in eight months; Ikechukwu Joseph (m), 35 years; and Michael Emerenwa (m), 40 years — both auto-electricians who modified vehicles for export. “Elijah Nwauwa Sunday (m), 45 years, a self-styled pastor from Owerri, Imo State, who fronted as a spiritual leader while acting as the syndicate’s broker at Mgbuka-Obosi car scrap market, Onitsha; Samuel Ejigbo (m), 39 years, from Kogi State, an ex-convict and field operator in Port Harcourt; Umar Jabbo (m), 25 years, from Taraba State, caught attempting to purchase a stolen Toyota Camry.” The police image maker said the feat underscores the command’s resolve to make Rivers State uncomfortable for criminal elements and syndicates and called on residents to remain vigilant and support the police with credible information. “All suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, while efforts continue to arrest the ringleader and other fleeing accomplices. “The Rivers State Police Command remains committed to the safety and security of all residents. These operations reflect a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and ensure public confidence in law enforcement,” the statement concluded.