“Baba go slow” Buhari Demands Report on Sale of NITEL

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja demanded a comprehensive report on the sale of the Nigerian Telecommunications Company (NITEL).

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. Mr Garba Shehu said the president made the demand after receiving a briefing from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Tunji Olaopa.

‎The president said he was concerned by the continuing protests of former NITEL employees and other Nigerians over the manner in which assets of the company were sold.

The ‎president,  however, said he was not opposed to the sale of the telecommunication company belonging to the federal government but was concerned about the process.
Former president, Dr Goodlluck Jonathan's administration sold the telecom company for $252m to NATCOM consortium in December 2014.

Speaking to State House correspondents after briefing the president  on the activities of the ministry, Olaopa said that the president had directed him to raise a memo on the whole transaction to ascertain if there were any underhand dealings.

He also stated that the president was equally concerned on the quality of service rendered by the telecom operators in Nigeria.

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja