150 telecom sites shut over Kogi State tax demands.

About 150 telecommunications base stations have been closed down in 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory as a result of unmet tax demands.

The umbrella body of telecom companies, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, which disclosed this on Monday also raised the that there would be total communications blackout in Kogi State and parts of Abuja, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger States.

The Chairman, ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, while addressing journalists in Lagos, alleged that an attempt by the Kogi State Government to increase its internally generated revenue had led to the sealing of hub sites in Kogi, which has multiple connections with other base stations in neighbouring states.

Adebayo said, 'As a result of the action by the state government, our members are unable to refuel power generators in these sites, a situation which has led to outage of over 70 sites including hub sites across parts of Kogi State.

'Now, there is likely impact on nine states surrounding Kogi State namely: Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Niger States. These are states sharing borders with Kogi State; Abuja, the FCT is also inclusive.'