Photo Credit: BusinessDay Online

Etisalat, one of Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications services providers, has changed its brand name to 9mobile.

Chain Reactions, the public relations consultant to the company, while confirming the development, said an official statement to that effect would be issued to the appropriate authorities.

Earlier this week, the Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs of Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, had dropped a hint on what the company’s new name would be when he recalled that “0809ja” was adopted when the company was unveiled in Nigeria.

However, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) who had through its Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo directed Etisalat Nigeria to also change its logo and colour, said the company was yet to inform them of the change of its brand name.

“I am not privy to any letter to that effect, neither is the Nigeria Communications Commission,” Ojobo said.

“However, brand change involves a lot of processes. The company will need a new logo, colour and even have to call the subscribers to a forum to announce the change of brand name properly. This must be done after they might have informed the regulator,” he added.

Ojobo further revealed that the hurried possible adoption of the new brand name by Etisalat Nigeria might not be unconnected with the three-weeks ultimatum given to it by its parent company in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to do so.

He further added that the telecoms regulator would scrutinise the financial status of other telecom operators in the country following Etisalat Nigeria’s inability to repay a $1.2 billion loan it obtained from some banks to carry out some projects.