Vodafone has been linked to a potential investment in Nigerian incumbent operator Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). According to regional reports this week, Paul Donovan, Vodafone CEO for Central Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Affiliates, has met with Nigerian vice-president Goodluck Jonathan concerning the government’s planned sale of a stake in NITEL and its mobile unit M-TEL. “Only a competent and efficient company would be allowed to take over the management of NITEL from Transcorp,” Jonathan is reported as stating by AllAfrica.com. M-TEL is the country’s fourth-largest mobile operator, according to Wireless Intelligence, with approximately 4.5 million subscribers. Jonathan is quoted as saying that the government has invested heavily in the development of NITEL’s infrastructure with little result, and therefore aims to hand over the management of NITEL to a telecoms company.

Last week, Vodafone bought a 70 percent stake in Ghana Telecom, Ghana’s fixed-line incumbent operator and third-placed mobile player, for US$900 million. Vodafone has previously targeted Africa as a strategic investment opportunity and has been looking to further expand in the continent by buying a further 12.5 percent stake in South African mobile operator Vodacom.