Embattled telecommunication company, MTN Nigeria has sought the
intervention of the South African High Commission following the N1.04tn
fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission for alleged
breach of subscriber identity module registration rules.
It was learnt that the telecom firm approached the mission to prevail
on the Federal Government to either waive the fine or reduce it
drastically.
A source told our correspondent on Thursday that MTN has been
briefing the mission about its engagement with the NCC over the whopping
fine, which it was learnt may cripple its operations in the country.
The South African company, which operates in more than 21 countries
across Africa and the Middle East, considers Nigeria as its cash cow
with over 62 million subscribers.
“MTN has sought the assistance of the South African embassy over the
NCC fine; although it is negotiating with the NCC over the matter, the
firm is also considering using diplomatic and political levers to
resolve the issue of the fine which it finds disproportionate,” the
source stated.
The NCC had fined the telecom giant for allegedly having
pre-registered SIM cards in its systems which made it impossible to
verify the personal details of subscribers, thereby compromising
national security.
The NCC Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, said MTN was discovered
to be harbouring about 5.2 million defective SIM cards on its network
which it failed to deactivate.
The NCC had in September fined MTN and other telecom firms including
Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat a total sum of N120.4m for having
incomplete and pre-registered SIM cards in their systems.
When contacted, the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr.
Lulu Mnguni confirmed that the mission may intervene if approached by
MTN over the NCC fine.
“They (MTN) are engaging the NCC for now, we cannot get involved in
the matter until MTN asks us to intervene, but we are watching the
process,” he stated.
Source: Punch News
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