5G Auction: NCC denies knowledge of alleged Tinubu’s link to Mafab Communications Ltd

By Etuka Sunday 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) denied it has prior knowledge that the former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was involved with Mafab Communications Limited as being alleged. 

NCC claimed it was in the course of its routine media review of December 15, 2021, it became aware of publications in some online media channels alleging the involvement of  Tinubu, in Mafab Communications Limited, one of the winners of the 5G spectrum sold by the Commission in a public auction conducted on Monday, December 13, 2021, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

One wonders whether background checks were properly conducted on the companies by the Commission during the bidding process leading to the public auction of the 5G spectrum.

However, NCC said, consistent with its’ long-established regulatory culture and tradition, the process leading to the auction of the 5G spectrum was open, fair and transparent.

It said,  the public auction followed a rigorous due process and was witnessed by a cross-section of stakeholders as observers, including the media, the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the Independent Corrupt Practices  and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as well as civil society groups.

A statement by the Director, Public Affairs,  NCC,  Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde said, Mafab Communications Limited is a corporate entity duly licensed by the Commission to conduct telecommunications business. The company, which is in good regulatory standing with the Commission, currently holds international data access (IDA), inter-connect data exchange (IDE) and Value-Added Service (VAS) licences.

It is pertinent to state that the Information Memorandum (IM) for the auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum clearly set out eligibility criteria for participation of interested bidders in the auction, which included that new companies could participate in the bid.

Over the years, the NCC has had spectrum auctions and as an independent regulatory agency, has maintained an undisputable reputation of successful auctions based on openness, fairness and transparency, a fact widely acknowledged locally and internationally. NCC’s auction proceedings conform to international best practice, devoid of any undue influence or interferences whatsoever.

A higher standard of integrity and openness was emplaced in the 5G auction as the process was, for the first time, witnessed by the public both physically and virtually through a link provided by the  Commission on its official website.

The Commission would like to assure Nigerians that, following the successful auction of the 5G spectrum, it is prepared to drive the implementation of the next phase of the deployment of the new technology, in line with the Federal Government’s approved plan, for the benefit of all citizens.