NUPENG Strike Threatens Telecom Services in Lagos and Ogun
Telecommunications operators have raised concerns over the impact of the strike initiated yesterday by members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which has started affecting telephony operations, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states.
The telcos, represented by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), have called for urgent intervention to resolve the standoff between the police and NUPENG members, to prevent further service disruptions.
ATCON President, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, stated that the NUPENG PTD members began the strike to protest the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State. As a result, all truck loading operations and movements have been suspended indefinitely.
Emoekpere emphasized that the ongoing strike could severely disrupt diesel supply to telecommunications base stations in Lagos and Ogun states, leading to significant service disruptions as numerous telecom sites are critically low on diesel.
“We urgently request the intervention of the Lagos and Ogun state governors to facilitate access to diesel from the depot, ensuring uninterrupted operation of our affected telecom sites,” Emoekpere stated.
In a related development, the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have jointly established the Data Protection in Telecommunications Working Group (DPTWG).
National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, officially inaugurated the working group, expressing enthusiasm for the collaboration between the two parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE).
He stated that the initiative’s primary goal is to safeguard the data rights of Nigeria’s over 164 million mobile phone subscribers, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
Dr. Olatunji further mentioned that the partnership between the NDPC and NCC would significantly contribute to Nigeria’s digital economy and national development, reinforcing the country’s commitment to data security and user privacy.
Additionally, the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, speaking on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, reaffirmed the NCC’s dedication to upholding the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023) within the telecommunications sector.
Oshadami assured stakeholders that the NCC would fully support the working group’s mission to enhance compliance with data protection regulations and improve privacy frameworks within the industry.
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