Members of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria have lamented the rising cost of diesel.
The telecom providers say the price increase has impacted negatively on their operational costs and that they are set to approach the Federal Government for special interventions.
ALTON President, Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed this during a press conference on Thursday.
According to him, network planning, operational expense, and projection plans for telcos are based on diesel prices.
He added that the industry was worried about how the rising cost of diesel would further drive the high cost of business.
He further said there was a need for an intervention to save the sector, or operators might have no other choice but to begin a process of price review.
He said, “Diesel is now very expensive, from N250 to over N700. All network planning, operational expenses, and planned projection for the year are based on the fact diesel prices. This has increased. Today, you know the implication of that. This is one problem; cost has gone up.”
“We will be approaching the government for some form of intervention. But we are mindful of the high cost of living, and the implication of this on the economy and citizens. And so, we are not going to talk about direct price increases.
“But we will be approaching the government for some kind of intervention to cushion the effect of these changes on us as an industry.”
