Telecom
Osun Govt’s Claims of N900m Unpaid Tax Against MTN Unsubstantiated
Osun State Government, through its consultant, Global Transaction Nigeria Limited (GTNL), has been making unsubstantiated claims of outstanding tax obligations due, and requests that they be paid through the consultant.
Our Investigation has shown that MTN has settled its RoW fees to Odua Infraco based on binding RoW contract between Osun State and Oodua.
According to a document sighted by our reporter, the claim by osun state government is therefore baseless and unfounded since documents on ground has shown that the telco paid the state government through its consultant, in this case Odua Infraco.
If there is an attempt by Osun State government to severe ties with Odua Infraco, this shouldn’t impact existing agreement with RoW right holders (Odua and Osun should resolve their differences in the overall interest of ease of doing business).
During the period referenced, MTN legally partnered with the Odua Investment Company – in which the Osun State government has a significant shareholding, to lay cable in their fibre ducts in the state. This was based on the documented existing right of way approvals for Odua’s ducts provided by the Osun State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
The actual dispute is between Osun State government and Odua Infraco over the right-of-way (RoW) fees for fibre infrastructure deployment. Odua Infraco has the right of way for 1031.44 kilometres across four states (Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti States) for the construction and operation of fibre infrastructure, for which MTN executed an IRU with Odua.
The relationship between Odua and the Osun State government is governed by a May 2023 Right of Way & Easement Agreement. MTN demanded an additional letter of no objection from Odua for the transaction. However, it appears the state government is no longer interested in the relationship with Odua following the state’s appointment of Global Transaction Nigeria Limited (GTNL) as a consultant on telecommunications infrastructure and the alleged termination of the agreement with Odua.
Ignoring the existing agreement with Odua, the state government, via a letter dated 19th April 2024 (from the Special Adviser on legal matters to the Governor) demanded for the payment of N945,000,000 as Right of Way (RoW) fees for 270KMs of fibre optic and a penalty fee of N100,000,000 for the alleged non-payment of RoW. Meanwhile, the RoW is already covered under MTN’s existing agreement with Odua.
Almost universally, Nigerian state governments have acknowledged the importance of affordable right of way charges to enable the growth and development of an inclusive digital economy.
Actions taken by MTN to settle the matter
Engaged and met with members of the Executive Council of Osun State (Commissioners for Finance & Environment & Sanitation and the Attorney General) to amicably resolve the issue. However, all efforts have not yielded the desired result.
Advised Odua to settle its disagreement with the state government.
MTN has suspended all payments to Odua until the matter is resolved.
Sought the NCC’s intervention following a complaint filed with the NCC by the GTNL.
Pertinent issues
Should consultants be mandated to collect tax revenue directly on behalf of government as opposed to receiving payments directly from government?
A modern and dynamic economy rides off low-cost telecoms infrastructure. State governments seeking to charge exhorbitant right of way fees simply put more pressure on customer pricing;
Progressive state governments have waived RoW fees entirely in recognition of the economic and social benefits of affordable digital and data access.
Osun State government has provided documented right of way to MTN partners, but now wants to charge additional fees for the period in which that RoW approval was granted.
The Odua investment company, which was granted RoW by the Osun State Government and partnered with MTN, is partly owned by the Osun State Government and there is no need for this level of aggression.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
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Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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