The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has confirmed the return of diesel supply to telecom sites, disclosing that telcos are meeting today with the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) to find a lasting solution to a dispute between the two groups.

ALTON, which raised the alarm of suspension of diesel to about 16,000 telecom sites last week, claiming it would affect telephone signals in states, including Kaduna, Lagos, and Delta, informed that the case is not an industry-to-industry issue, but largely a commercial dispute between a member of NOGASA and a towerco.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, the Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, said initially there shouldn’t have been any strike on the part of NOGASA, stressing that the matter is not about any industry debt or industry-to-industry issue.

“They have resumed supply late Friday into early Saturday. Parties are meeting again tomorrow (today). The substance of the matter is more of a trade dispute between a member of NOGASA and one of ALTON’s members. It is not a question of somebody owing, but a dispute in trade between two companies. We are surprised that NOGASA is dragged into it.

“Let me put it this way: if a member of ALTON is having a problem with someone, and you call out the whole of ALTON to go on a strike. This is where it is a bit difficult and puzzling! How can a whole group, because of a trade dispute between one of its members, call out an entire group to go on strike?

“The matter is not a question of debt owed by an operator to anyone, but a trade dispute between two members of NOGASA, a company owned by one person within NOGASA, on account of which the entire body has declared a strike. So, whether this is being manipulated by a few interest groups within NOGASA or the leadership endorsed it, these are the things we shall sort out when we meet on Monday. It is not an industry debt, not trade debt, but a commercial dispute between two members of NOGASA and our member.”

NOGASA, which raised the issue of debt, has directed its members to resume petroleum product supplies to telecom tower operator IHS and other telecom companies.

NOGASA’s National President, Bennett Okorie, on Saturday in Abuja, stated the resumption of supplies was prompted by interventions from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Okorie said the suspension of service withdrawal will last for seven days, during which suppliers are to provide 24-hour deliveries to help restore fuel stock levels at affected sites.