Telecom
Buhari Has Final Say on MTN Fine- Shittu
The Presidency has reiterated it is not considering reducing the N1 trillion fine slammed on MTN Nigeria for violating an order by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to deactivate 5.4 million subscribers for not meeting up with the SIM registration standards.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communication, disclosed that, after series of meeting between the Nigerian authorities and MTN, the onus now lies with President Muhammadu to take decision on the matter.
Shittu, however, added that NCC’s decision was in line with the regulatory standards and policies and will serve as deterrent to other operators.
The minister faulted those who accused the government of lacking understanding on the implications of the fine, saying, “It is about making sure that Nigerians appreciate the fact, the era of impunity is over. Questions need be asked for every infractions and we need to be fair when and where necessarily. I need to repeat this: nobody wants MTN to die. It is not in the interest of Nigeria for MTN to die, because as far as I am concerned, MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company, though it comes from South Africa. The Chairman, the CEO and top executives are Nigerian “shareholders”.
“What I will suggest is that, to make MTN more Nigeria’s they need to go PLC; open their doors and shareholding base to all Nigerians so there will be more acceptability. MTN has made great strides, literally, opened our eyes to benefits in telecommunications. So, MTN is part and parcel of the Nigerian dream. Again, there are thousands of Nigerians who earn their daily living through MTN. More importantly, for instance, I am a subscriber to MTN since the inception in Nigeria and I do not want to dispose my line, so we don’t want MTN to die.
“It is like a parent whose child offends the law, if you spare the rod, you spoil the child. MTN is not operator in Nigeria; if you do not punish one for the infractions, then you give a signal to other operators to disobey the law and regulations.
“I pray that issue will be solved by Mr. President to the best interest of Nigeria”.
On Nigeria Governors’ Forum recent position that MTN must pay the fine in full, he said, “The President will take the best decision. It is his responsibility and in his wisdom he will do what is right. Whether Governors take decision or not, laws are have been established to deal with these issues. If a court gives a judgement on any matter, of course, the court’s decision is valid, whether a party involved in the case likes it or not.
“Of course, if you go on appeal in some cases, the authority to which you appeal may decide to review the earlier judgement. Until that is done, the judgment remains. NCC’s position with regards to fees to be paid remains valid”.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
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