By Modupe Gbadeyanka
There is an urgent need for the local authorities to come up with laws to protect infrastructure in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.
This is the view of the Managing Director/CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, in a statement to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the leading telecommunications services provider.
Mr Ogunsanya said he was happy with the recent push by the government to make telecommunications facilities Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), which he said the telecommunications operators have been seeking for.
He commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Ali Pantami, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, and other regulators for providing leadership and vision in the industry.
While commenting on the 10th year of operations of the firm in the country, he expressed profound appreciation to Nigerians for their unflinching support for and loyalty to the network.
Mr Ogunsanya announced that Airtel Nigeria, as part of activities marking a decade of doing successful business in Nigeria, would be spending N300 million to support the fight against COVID-19, being the final part of the N1.9 billion the mobile telecommunications company pledged last April at the early stages of the pandemic.
He explained that N200 million would be invested in refurbishing and equipping a 4-storey admission facility for the use of Specialist Units in the Department of Medicine at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); N50 million to Lagos State Government to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for Lagos State Health Workers and N50 million for the procurement of a molecular laboratory to be provided by 54 Gene with the capacity for 300 tests per day for Ogun State.
The Airtel Nigeria chief expressed the gratitude of the board, management and staff of the organisation to stakeholders in the telecommunications industry “especially our customers for standing by the company and designating it as the telecoms brand of choice over the years.”
He noted that the 10-year milestone would not have been possible without the custom and support of its over 50 million loyal and passionate customers.
According to him, Airtel has succeeded because Nigerians truly believe in the brand and have come to accept the company as an important stakeholder firmly committed to growing the economy, providing jobs and creating platforms and opportunities to empower more Nigerians both young and old.
Reflecting on the 10-year milestone, Mr Ogunsanya stated: “Airtel acquired Zain in June 2010 and rebranded as Airtel in November 2010.
“Over time, we have remained committed to our singular vision of empowering Nigerians and enriching lives. I am proud of what we have achieved together and, from the bottom of my heart, I thank every stakeholder (employees, customers, investors, partners, media, regulators, governments and others) for making this dream come true.”
Mr Ogunsanya pledged that Airtel would continue to be a force for good in the country, providing excellent communication services whilst supporting the various communities under its corporate social responsibility activities.
Adedapo Adesanya