We are yet to renew MTN’s operating licence- NCC dismisses news report

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has debunked news report that it has renewed operating licence of MTN Nigeria.
According to the regulatory body, the telecoms company has applied for the renewal of its Unified Access and Service Licence (UASL), saying that the application has not been approved as it’s still undergoing regulatory approval processes.
“The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission has been drawn to a publication in an online media entitled “Govt renews MTN Nigeria licence amid 20 years of GSM Phones” to the effect that the mobile operating license of MTN has been renewed by the Commission for another period of ten years.
“The online publication which cited regulatory filings by the NCC as its source, stated that “MTN Nigeria, the nation’s largest mobile network operator (MNO), has secured regulatory approval of the renewal of its operating licence for another 10 years with effect from September 1, 2021.”
“The Commission wishes to state that while MTN Nigeria has applied for the renewal of the UASL granted to it by the Commission, the application is yet to be approved as it is still undergoing required regulatory processes.
“This statement is issued for the guidance of our general stakeholders,” the statement  by Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu