– Businesses hit –
Telecoms firms, whose base stations and switches rely on generators for power because of poor to non-existent grid supply, say they may not be able to maintain their networks for much longer without fresh fuel stocks.
MTN Nigeria, the country’s biggest mobile operator with more than 55 million subscribers, said on Saturday it needed a “significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shutdown of services across Nigeria”.
Airtel Nigeria said on Sunday it was also facing a similar situation.
In aviation, domestic services were grounded and planes on international routes forced to divert to pick up aviation fuel.
At least three Nigerian radio stations have gone off the air to ration fuel that powers its generators. Some schools have brought forward half-term holidays.
One user on Twitter posted a sign from his church saying it had merged Yoruba-language and English services because of the shortages.
“Don’t bother to bring your (phone) charger to church, we have disconnected all the plugs,” read the note, which was signed: “Yours in Christ.”
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