Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd (EMTS), trading as
Etisalat Nigeria, has admitted that the Nigeria arm is still the soul of
its business.
The company was reacting to news of Etisalat Group’s withdrawal of the right to the continued use of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria by EMTS,
stating that it “still 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”.
According to a statement by Etisalat Nigeria vice-president of
corporate affairs, Ibrahim Dikko, “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.
“EMTS launched in Nigeria in 2008 with ‘0809ja’ to affirm the
‘Nigerianness’ of our origin and sphere of influence. In our 9 years of
operation, we have remained a prime driver and avid supporter of the
Nigerian spirit of excellence, and we will continue to stay true to our
‘Naijacentric identity’.
“This notion is strongly reflected in our core messages and depicted
in major projects and initiatives which we have been known to support.
All these initiatives have their foundation embedded in supporting key
aspects of the Nigerian fabric: building Nigerian businesses and
empowering Nigerian’s with a focus on the youth.
“EMTS is here to stay and we wish to assure our esteemed customers
that our core values of youthfulness, customer-centricity and innovation
will remain the pillars on which we operate.
“We thank our esteemed customers for their abiding faith in us.”