Telecommunications operators have said that the strike embarked upon, yesterday, by members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has started affecting telephony operations, especially within Lagos and Ogun states.

It also called for urgent intervention and amicable resolution to the standoff between the police and members of the NUPENG.The telcos, under the aegis of the Association of Telecommunications Companies (ATCON), said urgent intervention is needed to avoid further service disruptions.

ATCON President, Tony IzuagbeEmoekpere, who spoke, yesterday, said that members of the NUPENG PTD embarked on the strike in protest against the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State.

He said that consequently, all truck loading operations and movements had been suspended indefinitely pending further notice. Emoekpere noted that the ongoing strike would severely disrupt diesel supply to members’ base stations in Lagos and Ogun states, causing significant concern as numerous telecom sites are now critically low on diesel, threatening service disruptions.

“We respectfully request the urgent intervention of the Lagos and Ogun state governors to facilitate access to diesel from the depot, ensuring uninterrupted operation of our affected telecoms sites,” Emoekpere stated.

MEANWHILE, 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, has officially inaugurated the working group, expressing his enthusiasm for the collaboration between the two parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE).

He said that the primary goal of the initiative was to safeguard the data rights of Nigeria’s over 164 million mobile phone subscribers, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

Olatunji further said 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.

Also, the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, who spoke 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 deepen compliance with data protection regulations and enhance privacy frameworks within the industry.