Telecommunication service providers in Nigeria on Wednesday disclosed that what they termed the unfair treatment in the allocation of foreign exchange by the Central Bank of Nigeria for their operations will possibly affect efficiency of the network in the country.
The telecommunication providers made this known during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Communication.
They equally raised the alarm on multiple taxation in the country.
In order to resolve the issue on Foreign Exchange, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, hinted of the resolve by the Senate to summon the Ministers of Communications and Finance and the National Communications Commission and others for clarification.
Speaking during the interactive session, the Managing Director of Airtel, Segun Ogunsanya, lamented that the Central Bank of Nigeria has not been according the telecoms providers in Nigeria preference in allocation of foreign exchange.
According to Ogunsanya: “If we are not included in priority sector, it will affect the services we are providing.
“We do not enjoy priority in the allocation of foreign exchange.
“This is a time bomb because the problem might begin to affect the quality of service.”
Ogunsanya also expressed dissatisfaction with the issue of multiple taxation in Nigeria.
He alluded to the harassments they have been suffering from all tiers of government, adding that this is a major concern.
He told the Committee that while the telecoms providers are forced to pay multiple taxes to the Federal Government, they are equally forced to do same to the states and local government areas.
He disclosed also that the problem has always been complicated when area boys in different localities in Nigeria mount pressures on the providers to part with money, a situation he described as lamentable.
Ogunsanya, however, canvassed for the creation of a Communication Treasury Account for all telecoms providers to pay their taxes directly into in order to solve the problem of multiple taxation.
Also, the representative of Etisalat, Mathew Willsher, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency in allocation of spectrum to MTN nigeria.
Olamilakan expressed dismay over thefailure of Globacom to attend the interactive session despite the invitation of the committee to the telecommunication
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