We have faith in Nigeria despite economic crisis, says Chinese telecoms company

ZTE Nigeria, a Chinese telecommunications company operating in Nigeria, says it has faith in the most populous black nation, despite the current economic crisis.

Yawei Yang, the company’s head of administration, said this in Lagos at the weekend.

She expressed ZTE’s commitment to continue to invest in the economy and in the development of local human capital.

Yang said the company, which started operations in 2002, has hundreds of direct and indirect Nigerian employees.

She added that ZTE has had a positive impact on the Nigerian economy.

“We recognise the current situation in Nigeria but we are going to maintain our high standard in terms of service delivery and out commitment to good welfare package for our staff,” Yang said.

“We, however, have faith in the resilience of this country and her people and will continue to do our part to ensure a return of boom in the Nigerian telecoms industry.

“We are among the few telecom companies that allow all our staff to unionise. We have generous welfare packages that include training and sundry allowances, mobile phone allowance, because of our belief in the development of the local workforce.

“We have not outsourced any of our operations outside Nigeria as some telecoms firms are currently doing to cut costs.

“Only 17 percent of our entire workforce are foreigners and we have always operated within the ambit of the extant Immigration laws and regulations of Nigeria 2015 and all other administrative directives.”

Responding to the allegation that the company recently flouted expatriate quota limit, Yang said: “It is true that our ZTE China staff routinely visit Nigeria on business visa as support group for discussions with telecommunication operators to enable us have good business prospects leading to signing of agreements which unfortunately have not been successful since 2014.

“It is the practice and this is for most foreign companies operating in Nigeria that those coming for such business discussions come with business visas because that is just for short visit and it is allowed under the law.

“They only come around when we have some business discussions and then travel out of Nigeria within a short time. The law is there for all to see.”

Yang said that ZTE had “always been above board” with all laws, including those relating to taxes and pensions.

ZTE Nigeria Limited is the Nigerian subsidiary of ZTE Corporation which is one of the leading multinational ICT solution and service providers in the world.

ZTE is listed in the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchange Market.

It operates in 160 countries with a total turnover of over 15 billion dollars and over 60,000 staff.