The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says it is yet to renew Airtel Mobile Operating License.
Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, made this known in a statement on Sunday, in Abuja.
According to him, the attention of the NCC was drawn to a recent statement on an online publication, credited to the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, to the effect that the mobile operating license of Airtel has 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”.
Adinde said that the Commission 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.
Recall that Ogunsanya, at the launch of ‘Airtel Touching Lives Season 6’ on Wednesday in Lagos, noted that Airtel earned a ‘Social License’ through its commitment to empowering and uplifting people and making positive and lasting impact on lives of its stakeholders.
However, Airtel Nigeria has clarified Mr. Olusegun Ogunsanya, the CEO/MD’s earlier statement regarding the ‘renewal of the Airtel’s licence’.
Mr. Emeka Oparah, the vice president, Corporate Communications & CSR at Airtel Networks Limited, said that the MD’s statement was reported 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.
