By Dipo Olowookere
In a matter of weeks, the eventual buyer of 9mobile would be announced to the world, The Cable is reporting.
Already, five companies have scaled through the final phase and they are Airtel, Globacom, Helios, Smile and Teleology Holdings Limited.
According to the report, Nigeria’s largest telecommunication network provider, MTN Group, did not make it to the top five.
About 16 companies had tendered expressions of interest (EoIs) to Barclays, 9mobile’s financial advisor.
The firms were MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Virgin Mobile from the United Kingdom, Vodacom of South Africa, BUA Group, Morning Side Capital Partners, Obot Etiebet & Co, Blackstone Private Equity, and Hamilton and George International Limited.
The Cable quoted CEO 9mobile, Mr Boye Onasanya, as saying that, “We are now moving on to the next phase, with plans for more extensive discussions and interaction with shortlisted parties, one of whom will emerge as final bidder in the coming weeks.”
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Adedapo Adesanya