Etisalat Nigeria becomes 9mobile

Nigeria's telecoms regulator has approved the change of Etisalat Nigeria's name to 9mobile after its Middle East parent pulled out, according to Reuters reports. Etisalat Nigeria has started the process of rebranding and is expected to unveil the new brand soon. "Etisalat Nigeria wishes to inform its over 20 million subscribers, government, regulatory agencies ... the telecommunication company has changed its name to 9mobile," 9mobile said. The move was to ensure business continuity of Nigeria's fourth largest telecom operator, it said in a statement.

Etisalat Nigeria's lenders have now taken control and appointed a new team to manage the company with a focus on getting it back to profitability while working to eventually raise new capital.

Etisalat Nigeria's new chief executive Boye Olusanya told Reuters he was focused on getting the telecoms group back on track to make a profit, while working on the paperwork to eventually raise new capital.