Consumers worry over services as Etisalat exits from Nigeria

Nigerian subscribers on the Etisalat telecom network have expressed worry that the recent decision by the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd (EMTS), the management of the company to exit the country would affect services they enjoy from the brand.

Their concern followed a news break on Monday that the UAE management of the telco which owned 45% stake in the Nigerian company has pulled out after a failed bid to re-negotiate a $1.7 million loan and subsequently, gave its Nigerian partner three weeks to phase out its brand name.

Speaking with Brandafric, an Etisalat subscriber, Fidelis Ehireme, worried that he would miss the promos and affordable net-call rates on offer on the network.

“When I got the information, I was worried. I enjoyed their promos. Etisalat is also cheaper to call my clients because, many of them are on Etisalat,” he lamented.

Many of the loyal consumers of the network took to the social media to vent their concerns. Femi Fabunmi, a Facebook user, queried, “What becomes of people like me who use Etisalat?

Another Facebook user, David Okedion, lamented, “I’m just so sorry for Etisalat. I use three lines and they are all on this network to let you know how much I love Etisalat. I just don’t know what to do now, I have promised myself never to return back to MTN or Glo.”

Another Facebook user, Fela Moo’Gentle Adesola, who blamed government policies for Etisala’s misfortune would not want Etisalat to quit. He prayed: “Etisalat , please don’t quit Nigeria. You’ve been my best network for years. Nigerian government keeps frustrating foreign investors.”

There was concern on Wednesday that the Etisalat faced Internet shutdown following the pull-out after the rumour broke online, a development that was denied by the telecom company.

Some Nigerians are also worried about the ripple effect of the exit the UAE shareholders on the unemployment rate as they reasoned that many employees of the company are likely to lose their jobs with the development.

Reacting, Etisalat Nigeria has assured its customers that the final outcome on the use of the brand would in no way affect the operations of the business as the full range of services remain available even as it denied that its brand name would change. In a statement it published on its website it stated, that it has a subsisting agreement to continue to use the brand name.

“EMTS has a valid and subsisting agreement with the Etisalat Group, which entitles EMTS to use the Etisalat brand, notwithstanding the recent changes within the Company. Indeed, discussions are ongoing between EMTS and Etisalat Group pertaining to the continued use of the brand, and EMTS will issue a formal statement once discussions are concluded. The final outcome on the use of the brand in no way affects the operations of the business as our full range of services remain available to our customers,” it stated.

EMTS launched Etisalat in Nigeria in 2008, seven years after the first GSM licensing in 2001 and went on to become the fourth position in the industry winning over 23.5 million, mostly youth subscribers as at December 2016.