By The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the Mobile Operating Licence of Airtel Nigeria is yet to be renewed.
This was contained in a statement by the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, on Sunday, in Abuja.
The statement said the attention of the NCC was drawn to a recent statement on an online publication, credited to the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, to the effect that the mobile operating licence of Airtel had been renewed by the Commission, for another period of 10 years.
“Mr Ogunsanya was said to have made the statement while speaking in Lagos on July 14, 2021, during the media launch of Airtel’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, ‘Touching Lives 6”,” it partly reads.
The Commission, however, stated that while Airtel Nigeria had applied for the renewal of the Unified Access Service (UASL) License granted to it by the Commission, the application is yet to be approved, adding that it is undergoing required regulatory process.
Meanwhile Airtel Nigeria has reacted in a statement where it clarified renewal of licence, saying a contrast was drawn between operating license and social license.
Emeka Oparah, its Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR, said whilst the operating license is issued by NCC, Airtel Nigeria stated that a social license is earned by what a company does for its communities
“However, for clarity, an operating license is always issued by NCC and our current license expires in November 2021. We have applied to NCC for its renewal ahead of this expiry date and the renewal process is in progress but yet to be concluded,” he said.
