Buhari To ‘Personally’ Probe Jonathan’s Sale Of NITEL, MTEL

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the ministry of communication to produce details of the recent privatization of the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), and Mobile Telecommunications (MTEL), under the immediate past administration.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communication and Technology Mr. Tunji Olaopa, disclosed this to newsmen after briefing President Buhari on the activities of the ministry. He said, the President had requested a memo detailing the sale of NITEL and MTEL be submitted directly to him.

Olaopa said the president was concerned about any underhand dealings from the deal, and also the quality of service rendered by the telecom operators in Nigeria.

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“The President was concerned about the liquidation of NITEL. He is not opposed to its privatization but he wants to know and he want us to bring a memo on how the whole transaction was undertaken so that he would know whether Nigeria was shortchanged.

“The President was concerned by the quality of service of telecom operators. The President is very concerned about the whole issue of privatization that is hindering the investments in ICT infrastructure, and he will personally champion this. The President talked about the potentials of the ICT sector in generating employment.”

The privitisation of NITEL and MTEL was completed in December 2014, which saw NATCOM telecommunications Limited take over the telecom company in a deal worth over $242 million.

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