Following Federal Government’s directive for the stoppage of diesel
supply to base stations close to border towns, telecom operators have
warned that some parts of the country will experience network
disruptions.
The government had, through the Nigeria Customs Service, directed
that petroleum products should not be supplied to fuel stations within
20km of the borders, in order to check smuggling.
It was gathered that the Chairman of the Association of Licensed
Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria
(ALTON), that Gbenga Adebayo has written to the Executive Chairman
of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Danbatta,
highlighting the implication of the directive.
Adebayo reportedly said by mid-day on Saturday, hub sites in Calabar
area, Cross River state, would be shut down due to lack of diesel.
The letter read: “Following the directives by the Nigeria Customs
Service in a circular dated Wednesday, November 6, 2019, directing all
Customs zonal coordinators not to allow petroleum product to be
delivered to any filling stations within 20 kilometres radius of any
border area in Nigeria.
“The directive is already having huge negative impact on our members’
operations and this may be significant if the necessary agencies of
government do not urgently intervene in the situation.”
The former group managing director of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),Maikanti Baru, had raised the
alarm about the increasing number of filling stations in border towns,
saying they are funnels for smuggling fuel to neighbouring countries.
