The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) has instructed its members to recommence supplying petroleum products to telecom tower operator IHS, following recent negotiations with the Federal Government.
Earlier this week, NOGASA had halted deliveries to the telecommunications sector due to escalating unpaid debts. However, in a statement issued Saturday, NOGASA’s National President, Bennett Korie, announced a temporary suspension of the supply withdrawal for seven days, giving the government time to address the outstanding issues.
“Following interventions by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Communications Commission (NCC), along with assurances that the matter will be amicably resolved from Monday, August 11, 2025, we have decided to resume services immediately at the affected depots,” Korie stated.
He further clarified that the National Executive Council of NOGASA convened on August 9 and agreed to pause the withdrawal to IHS for one week. Should the dispute remain unresolved by the deadline, the association warned it will reinstate the suspension without further notice.
“All members are instructed to recommence business with IHS without delay, ideally providing 24-hour service to compensate for downtime,” Korie added. He also emphasized that the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is not involved in the dispute and is only concerned about the safety of its workers.
The conflict originated from IHS’s allegations that two NOGASA member companies misappropriated diesel intended for powering telecom base stations.
In response, the Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), through its Chairman Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, called for peaceful dialogue rather than forceful disruptions. He noted reports that members of NUPENG and NOGASA had blocked access to diesel depots in Kaduna, Lagos, and Koko (Delta State) earlier in the week, severely affecting the supply chain.
“This blockade has jeopardized the operation of thousands of telecom sites managed by IHS Towers, a critical infrastructure supporting millions of Nigerians with mobile, internet, banking, healthcare, emergency services, and national security communications,” Adebayo said.
The ongoing investigation into the misappropriation claims is being handled by the relevant authorities as stakeholders await a swift resolution to prevent further disruption of essential telecommunications services nationwide.
