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NCC Explains Fine on MTN, Silent on Deadline

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Following diverse views by members of the public as to what actually transpired on the N1.04trillion sanctions placed on MTN Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has chronicled incidences that led to the sanction, insisting it acted on public interest.

A statement by NCC made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek showed that the fine was a result of violation of Section 20(1) of the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation of 2011.

NCC’s explanations came on the heels of statement credited to MTN Group on Monday saying the Nigeria’s telecoms regulator had extended the deadline for the payment of the N1.04 trillion (5.2 billion dollars) fine imposed on it, pending the conclusion of negotiations.

Phuthuma Nhleko, chairman of the Group, the statement said, had personally met with NCC to continue the ongoing discussions regarding the fine.

MTN claimed that the discussions included matters of non-compliance and the remedial measures that might have to be adopted to address it.

But referring to Section 20 (1) of Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011, NCC said that “Any licensee who activates or fails to deactivate a subscription medium in violation of any provision of these Regulations is liable to a penalty of N200,000.00 for each unregistered but activated subscription medium.”

The regulator said it fined Globacom N7.4 million, Etisalat N7 million, Airtel N3.8 million and MTN N102.2 million.

The fines, imposed in August 2015, were paid by all the telcos apart from MTN, according to Tony Ojobo, NCC director of public affairs, in a press statement on Monday.

MTN later got a fine of N1.04tr for not deactivating 5.1 million unregistered lines.

Although the statement was silent on the fate of MTN which has until midnight on Monday to pay its fine, Ojobo recounted the events that led to the imposition of heavy sanctions on the largest mobile operator in Africa.

He said: “Following the sanctions placed on MTN Nigeria, by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), members of the public have expressed diverse interest as to what actually transpired.

“The fine was a result of violation of Section 20(1) of the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation of 2011. “Section 20 (1) of Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011 states that: “Any licensee who activates or fails to deactivate a subscription medium in violation of any provision of these Regulations is liable to a penalty of N200,000.00 for each unregistered but activated subscription medium.”

“The fine of N1.04Trillion on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was done in the interest of the public which has been at the receiving end of security challenges.

“Consequent upon the overwhelming evidence of non-compliance, and obvious disregard to the rule of engagement by MTN, the NCC had no choice but to impose the sanctions. “MTN, in a letter of November 2, 2015 admitted the infraction and pleaded for leniency.

The Commission has acknowledged this and is looking into their plea without any prejudice to the fine.

The fine remains but the appeal and other engagements with MTN may affect the payment deadline.

“The fine that was imposed on MTN was the second within two months after the operators were given a seven-day ultimatum to deactivate all unregistered and improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards.

 While others complied, MTN did not. “On August 4, 2015, at a meeting of all the representatives of the Mobile Network Operators (MNO), with NCC, major security challenges through preregistered, unregistered and improperly registered SIM Cards topped the agenda after which Operators were given the ultimatum to deactivate such within seven days.

“On August 14, 2015, three days after the ultimatum expired, NCC carried out a network audit, while other Operators complied with the directive, to deactivate the improperly registered SIM Cards, MTN showed no sign of compliance at all.

“Please recall that four (4) Operators, MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat, were sanctioned in August for none compliance of the directive to deactivate the improperly registered SIM Cards. MTN got a fine of N102.2Million, Globacom N7.4Million, Etisalat N7Million and Airtel N3.8Million fine.

Others complied while MTN flouted the fine. “Based on the report of the compliance Audit Team, an Enforcement Team which visited MTN from September 2 – 4, 2015 wherein MTN admitted that the Team confirmed that 5.2million improperly registered SIM Cards were still left active on their network; hence, a contravention of the Regulations was established.

“Consistent with the Commission’s enforcement process, MTN was by a letter dated October 5, 2015, given notice to state why it should not be sanctioned in line with the Regulations for failure to deactivate improperly registered SIM Cards that were found to be active at the time of enforcement team’s visit of September 15, 2015.

“On October 19, 2015, the Commission received and reviewed MTN’s response and found no convincing evidence why it should not be sanctioned for the established violations. “Accordingly, by a letter dated October 20, 2015 the Commission conveyed appropriate sanctions to MTN in accordance with Regulations 20(1) of the Telephone Subscribers Registration Regulation 2011, to pay the Sum of N200,000.00 only for each of the 5.2million improperly registered SIM Cards.

“The statement further averred that: In order to ensure proper identification of telephone subscribers with their biometric data and in line with international best practice, the Commission came up with a framework for the registration of telephone subscribers in Nigeria. (Nigerian Communications Commission Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011).

“The above Regulations were developed with the full participation of all key industry Stakeholders including all Mobile Network Operators (MNO) in 2011. “The Commission on its part has a statutory responsibility to monitor and enforce compliance to the rules. More so, when national security is at stake.”


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Discover TECNO POVA 6 Neo’s Budget-Friendly Features

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As economic challenges loom large, the quest for quality at an affordable price becomes more crucial than ever, especially in the realm of smartphones. Amidst this backdrop, TECNO emerges as a beacon of innovation and hope with the launch of the POVA 6 Neo. This budget-friendly marvel defies expectations and redefines value in the smartphone market.

Endurance Meets Affordability:

Gone are the days when enduring battery life came with a hefty price tag. With the POVA 6 Neo, TECNO breaks the mold, offering a massive 7000mAh battery and a remarkable 6-year durability guarantee, all at a fraction of the cost. Bid farewell to constant charging anxiety and embrace uninterrupted usage without straining your budget.

Capturing Memories on a Budget:

Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to compromise on camera quality. The POVA 6 Neo features a stunning 50MP Ultra Vivid Camera, ensuring every photo you take is Instagram-worthy. Plus, with an 8MP Dual-tone LED Flash, you can say goodbye to dark, blurry shots and hello to crisp, clear images, even in low-light conditions.

Performance That Packs a Punch:

Powered by the MediaTek G99 Ultimate Gaming Processor, the POVA 6 Neo delivers powerhouse performance without the hefty price tag. Seamlessly navigate through apps, games, and tasks with lightning-fast speeds, thanks to its 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM – proving that high performance doesn’t have to come with a high price.

Built to Last, Built for You:

Designed with affordability, the POVA 6 Neo doesn’t compromise durability. With an IP53 water-resistant rating, you can rest easy knowing your device is protected against spills, splashes, and the occasional rain shower. Plus, its sleek and stylish design ensures you’ll turn heads without breaking the bank.

Entertainment at Your Fingertips:

Who says you need to spend a fortune to enjoy immersive entertainment? With the POVA 6 Neo’s 6.78″ FHD+ display and 120Hz refresh rate, you can enjoy crystal-clear visuals and buttery-smooth performance, whether gaming, binge-watching your favourite shows, or scrolling through social media. And with Dual Speakers featuring AI Noise Reduction and 4D Vibration Sense, you’ll feel right in the action, no matter where you are.

The POVA 6 Neo proves you don’t have to break the bank to experience innovation and performance. Its unmatched endurance, stunning camera capabilities, and powerful performance make it the perfect choice for budget-conscious consumers who refuse to compromise on quality. So why settle for less when you can have it all with the POVA 6 Neo?


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Nigeria Showcases Digital Social Investments at APRA 2024

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Nigeria through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showcased various digital social investments at the just-concluded 35th annual conference of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Through a presentation by the Head of Media Management Relations at the NCC, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, who later emerged as the Secretary-General of APRA after an election at the event which took place from 13th to 17th May, 2024, participants had a glean into some of the digital social investments and infrastructure expansion happening in Nigeria, through regulatory efficiency of the Commission.

In his presentation with the title: “Digital Inclusion as Arbiter of Accessible PR: A Case of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” Ibietan highlighted some 36 initiatives of the Commission within and beyond its immediate regulatory mandate, implemented to promote infrastructure expansion, support SMEs, empower educational institutions, advance innovation and promote digital up-skilling of Nigerian youths.

These include the Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI); Campus Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIEP) programme; e-PAD project for 232 institutions; Digital Appreciation Project (DAP) for 247 secondary schools; Digital Literacy Training for Teachers (DLT); Digital Integration Programme (DIP) for MSMEs; and the E-Accessibility programme targeted at persons with disabilities.

Others include the Nigerian Girls Can Code Competition; the Build A-Thon, aimed at enabling young persons to pitch and enhance their skills and new learning experience; Tertiary Institutions Digital Centre (TIDC) for 250 institutions; 2,291 Digital Nigeria Centers (DNC) online/offline educational resources; Local Application and Content Deployment programme; and up to 72 Rural Broadband Initiative projects, among others.

According to him, the NCC through its component special purpose vehicle, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has undertaken several digital infrastructure projects, programmes and collaborative activities with stakeholders.

“These interventions have caused a shift in digital literacy, fundamentally shrank the digital divide and opened the floodgates of participation in political, economic and social processes, and enabled accessible digital public relations in Nigeria,” he said.

While over 20 papers were presented at the APRA Conference to expound its thematic focus of “One Africa, One Voice: Bridging Africa’s Communication Divide”, Ibietan’s paper was the only presentation that showcased digital infrastructure investments by any African country, even though many papers advocated the centrality of adequate broadband infrastructure in enhancing digital culture on the continent.

Ibietan emphasised that digital inclusion is the ability of individuals and groups to access and fully participate in the digital society, particularly in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as the internet, computers, and mobile devices.

He submitted that digital inclusion encompasses not only access to digital technologies but also the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to effectively utilize them.

He also emphasised that the phenomenon of digital inclusion is desirable for economies that aspire to grow and develop in remarkable and measurable sense.

He said: “This is because digital inclusion promotes social and economic opportunities, enhances civic engagement and participation, supports education and lifelong learning, fosters digital literacy and skills development, encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, and helps to bridge the digital divide and reduce inequalities.”

He referenced that the COVID-19 pandemic and its fallouts proved the significance of digital infrastructure to the economy.

Luckily, he said: “Nigeria’s investment in broadband infrastructure partly explained why the nation was able to cope with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus because availability of digital infrastructure helped individuals, businesses and the government to migrate their social and economic activities to digital platforms in order to mitigate the devastating effect of the Pandemic.”

He recommended constant and seamless communication among stakeholders to ensure efficiency in the management and proper harvest of derivable benefits social investment and infrastructural projects.


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MoMo PSB and Layi Wasabi Announce Groundbreaking “No-Loser” Partnership

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Recently the digital space was abuzz with speculation about a potential legal battle brewing between Layi Wasabi’s comedic character, ‘The Law’, and MoMo PSB, a leading player in Nigeria’s digital financial services space.

Online speculation has been rife, as fans of Layi Wasabi, accustomed to seeing his character ‘The Law’ champion the underdog in his skits, were thrown a curveball. Whispers started swirling, suggesting that the tables might be turned this time. Could ‘The Law’ himself be facing the possibility of ‘doing jail’ – a phrase he often uses for comedic effect in his skits? Fans have been glued to their devices, anxiously awaiting updates on this bizarre, yet undeniably entertaining legal drama.

The gavel has fallen, and the outcome is unlike anything anyone anticipated! In a surprising turn of events, MoMo PSB and Layi Wasabi have announced a first-of-its-kind ‘no-loser’ legal partnership. Instead of facing off in court, ‘The Law’ has joined forces with MoMo PSB, leveraging his wit and legal expertise to champion financial inclusion for all Nigerians.

This innovative partnership marks a significant moment for both parties. MoMo PSB gains a powerful voice in Layi Wasabi, a digital content creator known for his ability to connect with audiences on a relatable level. His signature humor and knack for tackling serious issues are sure to resonate with Nigerians across the country, promoting financial literacy and the benefits of a cashless society.

For Layi Wasabi, this collaboration represents a unique opportunity to utilize his platform for positive social impact. ‘The Law’ has always been a champion of the underdog, and through this partnership, he can empower Nigerians with the knowledge and tools they need to take control of their financial futures.

Commenting on the partnership, Eli Hini, CEO, MoMo PSB, stated, ‘’We are excited to partner with Layi Wasabi, whose unique blend of humor and social commentary has captivated audiences across Nigeria. This partnership represents a dedicated effort towards enhancing financial literacy and inclusion. By combining Layi’s engaging storytelling with our innovative financial services, we aim to break down barriers and make financial empowerment accessible to every Nigerian.’’

This partnership, a strategic move by MoMo PSB to expand its reach, promises to be a win-win for all, especially the millions of unbanked or underbanked Nigerians. By leveraging Layi Wasabi’s immense popularity and relatable persona, MoMo PSB hopes to boost financial literacy and encourage the use of mobile banking solutions, ultimately promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria.


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