Reuben Mouka, the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has told EQ the agency made errors in its first statement threatening to sanction Starlink, an internet service provider owned by Elon Musk, for increasing its price without its permission.

Mouka, in a phone interview with EQ on Tuesday, said the second statement calling for a withdrawal of the first was not the commission backtracking. He explained that it was withdrawn due to issues with “the language”.

He added that the agency had issued another statement — the third in one day — which explains its stance on the matter.

READ MORE: NCC Tells Press to ‘Ignore’ Its Starlink Sanction Statement

“It was not a backtrack, we said the statement was in error and we are issuing another one that is correct because of the language. For some people, we wrote it mischievously,” Mouka told EQ.

“I took responsibility for the errors in the context and therefore asked those who have put it on their platforms to withdraw it. And we have issued the correct one.”

Early reactions to the NCC’s retraction included comments about the commission ‘folding’, a terminology meaning backtracking or surrendering.

“Why did NCC fold against Starlink?” Ola on X asked.

Others suggested the commission was afraid of Musk.

“The fear of Elon Musk is the beginning of wisdom,” Ewepudike Nduoma, another X user, posted.

Why did NCC fold against starling?— Ola in versace (@OllaDayLay) October 8, 2024

So NCC fit fold? That was too quick…— oa_durogbangba² (@neyonx02) October 8, 2024

When EQ asked what part of the first statement was made in error, Mouka said, “We have issued the correct one and when you see it, you will compare and know what the error is.”

In the new statement Mouka shared with EQ, the NCC maintained that it did not approve Starlink’s decision to increase prices and has begun a pre-enforcement action.

The new statement shared with EQ shows the agency’s stance.

“The decision by Starlink to unilaterally review its subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the NCC,” the new statement reads.

“The action of the company is in contravention of Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, and Starlink’s Licence Conditions regarding tariffs.

“The Commission commenced pre-enforcement action on the licensee on October 3, 2024.”

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EQ observed that in the first statement, which Mouka said was erroneous, the commission had stated that Starlink failed to await its approval for price adjustment before announcing it.

However, in the most recent statement, the phrase was absent, and the agency only said it had commenced a pre-enforcement action against Starlink.

“We were surprised that the company jumped the gun by announcing price changes after filing a request to the Commission seeking approval for price adjustment for which the Commission was yet to communicate a decision,” the initial statement claimed.

The post On Starlink Sanction: Why NCC ‘Folded’ appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.