Nigeria’s pioneering telecoms operator, NatCom Development and Investment Limited (ntel, formerly NITEL), which is eyeing a return from dormancy early next year has restructured its management team.
In August, Business Post reported that the company was making efforts to come back into the fold and take on active players like MTN, Airtel, and Globacom.
The latest play includes the appointment of a new board of directors as it prepares for a commercial relaunch in January 2026.
The new board includes Mr Adeleke Alex-Adedipe, Mr Ayodeji Joshua Richards, Mrs Maryam Mutallab, Mr Olaide Aremu, and Mr Soji Maurice-Diya, who serves as Managing Director/CEO of the rebranded telco. Each individual comes with years of experience and expertise.
The return of the telco is underpinned by a strategic N30 billion injection from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Once the dominant pre-GSM era provider with both wireline and mobile services via NITEL and Mtel, the operator fell into prolonged dormancy following the privatization of the Nigerian telecommunications sector.
After NatCom Development & Investment Limited acquired the business for $252.25 million in 2015, ntel struggled to regain traction.
Now, the company is considering a fixed wireless home play as the market entry that might end up preceding an earlier roaming/MVNO play.
The MVNO approach allows ntel to focus on branding, customer experience, and differentiated services, particularly to youth, fintech, and rural prepaid segments without owning costly infrastructure
As per Tech Cabal, Mr T.Y. Danjuma, remains the Chairman, while its legacy director and minority shareholder, Mr Tunde Ayeni, will also be instrumental.
The latest development reflects ntel’s focus on “monetising its nationwide portfolio of telecommunications and real estate assets” as part of efforts to diversify revenue streams and strengthen liquidity ahead of its relaunch.
In a joint statement, the board described the transition as coming at a “defining moment” in ntel’s recovery journey.
“It is a rare privilege to steward ntel at such a defining moment. We are energised by the opportunities ahead and look forward to working closely with management to unlock greater value from our infrastructure and shape a future-focused, sustainable business,” the board said.
“Our goal is clear: to position ntel as a robust, investor-friendly enterprise that delivers on Nigeria’s digital aspirations.”
On his part, Mr Maurice-Diya said the board’s composition “aligns the skills we need with the tasks ahead,” emphasising that strong governance will be key to restoring investor confidence and achieving ntel’s goal of becoming a sustainable, growth-oriented telecom brand in Nigeria’s digital economy.