9mobile’s Sale Not Halted by $100m Debt- NCC

The transfer of 9mobile to Teleology Holdings Limited, its preferred bidder, was not being truncated by an alleged $100million outstanding debts owed by the telco, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman/CEO, who stated this on the sidelines of the recent Second Stakeholders Forum with the Academia in  Abuja, said there was no  truth in the media reporto making the allegation.

He said while he fielded questions from the international media in Durban, South Africa, during the recently concluded International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Conference, he did not allude to any debt profile regarding 9mobile.

Speaking on the necessity of a strong synergy between the NCC and the Academia as well as telcos, Prof Danbatta said the stakeholders’ forum was organised to discuss matters that are germane to the development of the telecoms industry in the country.

He added that the topic for this year’s forum: Academia, Accelerator for Innovation, Industry Growth and Sustainability was in line with ITU vision for ICT related fields globally.

He said: ” At this same venue last year, we promised an encore, a continuity of the stakeholders forum with Academia which we hope will continue to provide us the platform to engage each other on how the academia can be more involved with the telecoms industry, develop more tangible relationships with the operators while seeking opportunities to be more engaged in the activities of the sector and contribute to producing the much needed manpower.”

He said the universities are the driving power of innovations in the country  hence the resolve of NCC to bring all stakeholders together to facilitate research and development that would be more impactful and sustainable for the overall growth of the industry.

He said the NCC committed over N50 million to research activities in the various universities across the nation in the previous year, stating that the amount is increasing just as the Commission is encouraging operators to support the efforts through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.