Airtel Nigeria clears air on controversial operating licence renewal statement

Airtel Nigeria clears air on controversial operating licence renewal statement

Airtel Nigeria has clarified Mr. Olusegun Ogunsanya, the CEO/MD’s earlier statement regarding the ‘renewal of the Airtel’s licence’.

According to Mr. Emeka Oparah, the vice president, Corporate Communications & CSR at Airtel Networks Limited, earlier reports has misquoted the MD’s statement out of context.

Mr. Oparah wrote, “During the launch of our flagship corporate social responsibility program titled Airtel Touching Lives, last week, a contrast was drawn between operating license and social license.

“Whilst the operating license is issued by NCC, we stated that a social license is earned by what a company does for its communities. We are very proud of our Touching Lives Program which gives support to the less privileged in our 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.

“We look forward to working with our various communities on the 6th edition of our Airtel Touching Lives Program”, the statement concludes.

The statement by Airtel Nigeria corroborated earlier statement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The Statement by the telecommunications industry regulator in Nigeria was signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, director, Public Affairs, in which the Commission insisted that the application submitted by Airtel Nigeria for the renewal of its Unified Access Service (UASL) Licence is still undergoing regulatory process.