Fighting Coronavirus: MTN, Glo, Other Telecom Firms Missing On Donors’ List

Nigeria’s fight to curb the spread of COVID-19 has attracted huge donations from different sectoral players of the economy except for the telecommunication firms who have kept mum in the midst of the worst global pandemic outbreak in modern history.

The telecommunication sector led by MTN, GLO, Airtel and 9 Mobile have recently posted huge profits, as the sector is undoubtedly  one of the most lucrative sectors in the country.

MTN alone posted a revenue of N1.169 trillion and a net profit of N202.11 billion in December 2019, while Airtel posted a revenue of N995 billion and a net profit of N145.08 billion in nine months period ending in.September 2019, A data from the Nigerian Stock Exchange shows.

Investigation done by THE WHISTLER shows that there has been no announcement of donations by these firms despite the N120 billion ($333.3 million) infrastructure gap needed to combat the pandemic as announced during a speech by the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emiefele.

Different sectoral players in the Nigerian economy have formed the ‘Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19’, a coalition formed to raise funds to combat the coronavirus, while no player among the telecom companies was mentioned on lhe list.

Players in the banking sector had made donations worth billions of Naira, with United Bank for Africa donating N5 billion ($13.9 million), while Access Bank Plc is collaborating with Aliko Dangote to provide treatment and isolation centres in the country.

Wealthy individuals in the private sector like: Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Herbert Wigwe and Segun Agbaje have also donated N1billion ($2.77 million) each.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and 31 oil companies  have also donated $30 million, adding to other equipment donated by the NNPC on Friday.

Meanwhile the CBN has solicited for more donations from well meaning stakeholders both at the international scene, while urging  the Bankers’Committee and important stakeholders to “step up” to raise the needed N120 billion ($333.3 million) for infrastructure.

The conversion rate was N360 per Dollar.