The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a clarification that Airtel Nigeria’s Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) application has not yet been approved, contradicting an assertion by the operator’s CEO Olusegun Ogunsanya.
CommsUpdate reports that at a speech in Lagos last week to promote Airtel’s new Touching Lives 6 initiative, Ogunsanya claimed that the operator’s mobile licence – which is set to expire in November 2021 – had already been renewed for the next ten years.
The NCC noted that the relevant regulatory process is still underway, and Airtel has since clarified that Ogunsanya’s remarks were taken out of context, reports local outlet Naira Metrics.
Emeka Oparah, Airtel Networks Limited’s Vice President of Corporate Communications & CSR, said: “During the launch of our flagship corporate social responsibility program titled Airtel Touching Lives… a contrast was drawn between operating licence and social licence. Whilst the operating licence is issued by NCC, we stated that a social licence is earned by what a company does for its communities.”
“However, for clarity, an operating licence is always issued by NCC and our current licence 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.”
