MTN and Airtel face service outages in Abuja due to diesel supply disruptions
Lack of diesel in MTN and Airtel base stations has caused network outages in Abuja. The NCC blames activities of National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association.
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Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has acknowledged ongoing quality of service challenges affecting mobile network users in Abuja, blaming the situation on disruptions to diesel supply at key telecommunications infrastructure sites.<br />
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In a statement issued on Friday, December 12, 2025, the Commission said the outages and degraded service experienced by subscribers were linked to diesel supply disruptions affecting IHS Nigeria Limited, a major colocation and tower infrastructure provider that powers base stations for mobile network operators, including MTN and Airtel, in the affected areas.<br />
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“The Nigerian Communications Commission acknowledges the quality of service challenges being experienced in Abuja, which have impacted the quality of experience of telecommunications subscribers,” the NCC said.<br />
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Telecoms networks in Nigeria rely heavily on diesel-powered generators to keep base stations running due to unreliable grid electricity. Tower companies like IHS own and operate these base stations, supplying power, security, and maintenance services to mobile operators that deliver voice and data services to consumers.<br />
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According to the NCC, the current service disruptions stem from the activities of the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA), which reportedly disrupted diesel supplies to the affected sites, leading to widespread outages across parts of the capital.<br />
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“The challenges are a result of the activities of the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association, which disrupted diesel supplies to sites with the attendant telecommunications services outages in Abuja,” the Commission said.<br />
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The regulator stated that it is collaborating with major industry stakeholders and licensees to address the situation and restore normal service as soon as possible. It also stressed the importance of a reliable power supply to the delivery of quality telecom services nationwide.<br />
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“The NCC is actively engaging with relevant stakeholders to...
