NCC approves Visafone’s share to MTN

NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has approved the transfer of Visafone’s shareholding to MTN Nigeria, and not the licence.

Mr Tony Ojobo, NCC’s Public Affairs Director, said in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday that a decision to transfer Visafone licence to MTN has not been taken.

Ojobo said that this was contrary to the speculation that NCC had foreclosed the release of the spectrum held by Visafone to MTN.

He said that the clarification was to allay the fears in some quarters that the frequency had been withheld by the commission.

Ojobo said that specifically, Visafone, with a Universal Access Service Licence (UASL) deploying Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, applied to the NCC for an approval to effect a change in its shareholding structure.

According to him, this is by transferring 100 per cent of its shares to MTN Nigeria.

”Having met all the preliminary requirements for granting of approval for change in shareholding structure, the NCC in line with its established procedure granted an Approval-In-Principle to Visafone Communications Ltd.

“This is subject to fulfillment of conditions to transfer 100 per cent of its shares to MTN Nigeria.

”What has been approved in the transaction is 100 per cent shareholding not licence.

“The commission has yet to meet to take a decision on the application by Visafone to transfer its licence to MTN.

”NCC final approval to the changes in shareholding of Visafone Communications was taken by virtue of Section 38 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003,’’ Ojobo said.

Section 38 of the Act states ”the grant of a licence shall be personal to the licencee.

“The licence shall not be operated by, assigned, sub-licenced or transferred to any other party unless the prior written approval of the commission has been granted.”

Comments

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog