Nigeria’s biggest mobile phone operator MTN has warned that its network faces shutdown due to fuel shortages that have crippled the nation.

The company, the biggest subsidiary of the South Africa-based MTN Group, said it needed a “significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shutdown of services across Nigeria,” according to an AP report.

“If diesel supplies are not received within the next 24 hours the network will be seriously degraded and customers will feel the impact,” it added on its Twitter account @MTNNG on Saturday evening.

News Express reports that another leading mobile operator, Airtel, issued a related warning this evening, saying via sms to its customers: “Dear Valued Customer, this is to inform you that due to nationwide fuel crisis, our services may experience some strain. We are doing everything possible to manage the situation. Thank you for your understanding.”

The fuel shortage was sparked by oil marketers, who demanded immediate payment of alleged arrears of nearly $1 billion by the out-going Goodluck Jonathan administration which has, however, disputed the claim.