After departure of Vietnamese: NEXTTEL Cameroon in search of new strategic partners.

This development follows the departure of Vietnamese, who had been in partnership with NEXTTEL Cameroon. The Vietnamese, according to a source close to the top management of NEXTTEL Cameroon, days back, parked their bags and left Cameroon.

It is in the light of the foregoing that NEXTTEL Cameroon is already lobbying for new strategic partners. 

NEXTTEL Cameroon’s lobbying for new strategic partners, it should be noted, comes at the time when hopes had been rekindled with the arrival of five Vietnamese technicians to start work after five years of tension. But many were taken aback when they parked their bags and left Cameroon without any official reasons. 

Our source equally stated that strategic meetings are being organised by NEXTTEL top management in view of sending people abroad, to talk with potential partners who wish to invest in the promising company, which was once the leader in internet connection and still has great potentials which can be harnessed. 

We were equally informed by the same source that some partners had been knocking at the doors of NEXTTEL but the Cameroon partner, Baba Ahmadou Danpullo, refused, because he wanted to work with his Vietnamese partners. 

But with the present dispensation, NEXTTEL Cameroon, our source disclosed, may start considering other partners so as to “restore the hope Cameroonians had in NEXTEL Cameroon”.  

According to our NEXTTEL Cameroon source, potential and interested partners can get to the company through telephone numbers: +23767777789, 661000240, and 666222222.

It should be recalled that there had, years back, been a longstanding battle between local Company, BESTCAM and VIETTEL GLOBAL, two shareholders of VIETTEL Cameroon SA., over ownership of NEXTTEL, one of the subsidiaries of VIETTEL GLOBAL. 

At the peak of the fierce battle, there had been an alleged attempt by the Vietnamese to hold-up VIETTEL Cameroon SA. The rumours at the time followed recommendations of an inter-ministerial working group that was set up on instruction of the Prime Minister, Chief Dr Dion Ngute, to find lasting solution to the crisis.

Rumours, however, had spread during that period, indicating that VIETTEL GLOBAL was reportedly scheming to offer 35 million FCFA to a top government official to have the company seized from Baba Ahmadou Danpullo. 

It was also alleged that VIETTEL GLOBAL had never wanted to be with BESTCAM within the framework of the partnership. They are said to have, on several occasions, reportedly wished to buy back the shares of BESTCAM in the business, against amicable proposals which were made by BESTCAM to resolve their misunderstandings. 

Such conflict of interest is said to have worsened when the Vietnamese unilaterally fixed the amount of investments to be made, whereas it was supposed to be decided by the two partners. 

Years back, the Vietnamese were also accused of having been working tooth and nail to dislodge the Board Chair of VIETTEL Cameroon SA, Baba Ahmadou Danpullo. Having failed to do so, they Vietnamese had first left Cameroon. But when the frosty relations between Baba Ahmadou Danpullo and his VIETTEL GLOBAL partners had seemingly thawed, they recently returned, with observers hoping that they will work amicably with BESTCAM in the NEXTELL Cameroon operations.

It is, however, not clear what made the relations to again go sour, causing the Vietnamese to park and leave days back. 

Baba Ahmadou Danpullo, it should be said, is an acclaimed and respected Cameroonian-born businessman. He is also a known philanthropist. He handed 100 million FCFA to assist government fight the COVID-19 pandemic alongside other uncountable show of generosity through his companies.