Telecommunications operators in the country have appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria to include telecoms service providers on the priority list of sectors in serious need for foreign exchange.
The operators made this appeal on Friday, under the auspices of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, saying that access to forex would save telcos from liquidation and financial crises.
They stated that Etisalat Nigeria would not have had financial challenges if it had fair access to forex.
According to the ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, governments at all levels need to give priority to the telecoms sector because of its socio-economic values to the country.
He said, “The government has been giving priority to many sectors in the country in areas of multiple taxations, Right of Way, among others, but very little to the telecom industry.
“Part of government policy on forex is responsible for the groaning state of the telecoms industry. The issue of Etisalat with banks, which I don’t want to speak much on, is a typical example.”
The ALTON chairman added, “Whereas, other sectors are awarded priority, the telecoms sector which is the sector of all other sectors, is being ignored and pushed to the wall.”
