Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has moved swiftly to address the quality of service (QoS) challenges currently affecting mobile subscribers in Abuja, signalling a coordinated regulatory and stakeholder response to restore network stability in the nation’s capital.
In a statement issued on December 12, 2025, the Commission acknowledged the service disruptions experienced by subscribers, linking the outages primarily to disruptions in diesel supply to critical base station infrastructure. The diesel shortfall has affected IHS Nigeria Limited, the colocation company responsible for powering base stations used by major operators, including MTN and Airtel, across parts of Abuja.
According to the NCC, the situation was triggered by the actions of the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA), which disrupted diesel supplies to telecom sites, leading to widespread service degradation. Given the sector’s heavy reliance on diesel-powered infrastructure—particularly in areas where grid power remains unreliable—the impact on network availability was immediate and significant.
Rather than adopting a passive regulatory posture, the Commission has positioned itself at the centre of efforts to resolve the crisis. The NCC disclosed that it is actively engaging major stakeholders and licensees, facilitating dialogue between service providers, infrastructure companies and relevant actors in the energy supply chain to remove the bottlenecks affecting telecom operations.
“The Commission is committed to ensuring seamless communication services for all Nigerians,” the statement noted.
Beyond short-term remediation, the NCC is also using the episode to push for more sustainable solutions. It confirmed that engagements with stakeholders are exploring pathways to prevent a recurrence of similar disruptions.
While the diesel supply issues persist, the Commission has assured subscribers that it is closely managing the situation and will continue to provide updates as progress is made towards restoring full service across Abuja. It also appealed for patience, reaffirming its nationwide mandate to deliver high-quality telecommunications services.
