Telecom
When Will Enough be Enough for MTN Nigeria? — By Olayiwola Luqman, FCA
The history of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria) is replete with controversies and litigation unlike other players in the telecom sector. Some might argue MTN’s size naturally attracts its issues. This would, however, be too easy a way out of truly analyzing its issues.
Others would argue upon review, that it is more about its attitude to Nigeria and Nigerians, in other words, the Big Man syndrome, that is the catalyst for its issues. Since inception, MTN has hobbled from issue to issue. It has won some, lost others and settled some.
The company seems to relish in courting what many refer to as ‘needless controversies’, the outcome of which is the toga of arrogance that it adorns in seeking positions only beneficial to itself and seemingly disregarding government and regulatory positions, the impact of its actions on Nigeria and Nigerians as well as other non-altruistic positions.
One may strive to seek to understand a start-up company’s choice of courting controversies as a means of creating awareness and corporate presence but for a company like MTN Nigeria that is about to celebrate its silver jubilee, one would have thought that it should be weary of unnecessary controversies. This is, however, not the story of MTN Nigeria, unfortunately.
Currently, the company is in a court battle instituted against it, its business partner, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited (ATC Nigeria), and three other bodies, by the Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resources Centre (HEDA) over the construction of 2,500 base trans-receiver stations across Nigeria for MTN’s operations. HEDA a civil society group, has gone to court to stop MTN Nigeria and ATC Nigeria from siting new base stations where there are already existing base stations citing health and environmental concerns. The case with suit No: FHC/L/CS/2359/2023, was filed in the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, on 20 November 2023 and is still pending before the court.
In October 2015, MTN Nigeria’s arrogance and disregard of the country’s laws got it enmeshed in a regulatory quagmire resulting to a fine of N1.04 trillion (about $5.2 billion) against it, for the failure to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers from its network. Its imprudence did not end there but extended to the point where it was alleged to have bribed a senior government official so the fine could be reduced.
In yet another instance, MTN Nigeria shunned Nigerians’ calls for the adoption of per-second billing as its sister subsidiaries in other climes deployed and kept insisting, for many years, that such deployment was impracticable in Nigeria. The fleecing of Nigerians by MTN Nigeria continued until Glo Mobile debunked MTN Nigeria’s denials in 2003 and debuted with per-second billing. Even when the industry regulator, NCC insisted that it deploy per-second billing, MTN Nigeria was reluctant in its compliance and went so far as to illegally charge subscribers who wanted to migrate to that platform the sum of N100 each.
A look at MTN Nigeria’s over two-decade operations in Nigeria also reveals a series of corporate governance issues, including tax defaults, illegal repatriations of profits and other corporate vices. In 2018, the Federal Government, following a ten-year “revenue assets investigation” conducted between 2007 and 2017, accused MTN Nigeria of having some liabilities which included alleged unpaid/underpaid import duties of about N242.25 billion as well as withholding and value-added taxes of about $1.3 billion. Last year, a tax appeal tribunal sitting in Lagos ordered MTN Nigeria to pay $72,551,059 in tax default to the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).
What beats most people’s imaginations is that while other subsidiaries in the MTN Group operating in other markets have had issues (Iran and Afghanistan come to mind with the very serious allegations against them), they largely seem to be responsible corporate citizens in their countries of operation. MTN Nigeria, on the other hand, tends to be roguish and more hawkish in its operations. Its services are poor, yet they appear the most expensive in Nigeria.
These issues could only be as a result of arrogance believing that, by appointing eminent Nigerians who have headed regulatory bodies with oversight over its activities to the Board of Directors of the company, it would always be able to bulldoze its path by way of influence peddling through any regulatory issue. It is worthy of note that some notable civil society groups in the country have petitioned the relevant regulatory agencies to investigate these Board appointments, citing corporate governance as well as conflict of interest issues.
The company needs to reevaluate its operations in the country with a view to respecting the law and regulatory authorities as well as having more regard for Nigerians, whose patronage earns it the position of the largest revenue earner in the MTN Group. Nigerians deserve a better deal with MTN Nigeria and the Nigerian government is supposed to stand up and ensure that this happens by insisting on good corporate governance, without being swayed or intimidated by the company or the people that sit on its board.
– Olayiwola Luqman, FCA. Business analyst, writes from Lagos*
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has unveiled Accelerator Cohort 3.0 as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s space technology ecosystem and support the growth of local startups.
The initiative will be a major highlight of the 2026 Nigerian Satellite Week scheduled to hold on March 30 and 31 in Abuja, where key players in the satellite and digital infrastructure sectors are expected to converge.
In a statement signed by Stephen Kwande, the Head of Corporate Communications, the company described the new accelerator as its most direct investment in building long-term competitiveness within Nigeria’s space economy.
According to NIGCOMSAT, the programme is designed to support early-stage ventures working across satellite applications, last-mile connectivity, agriculture, logistics and other areas where space-based technology can drive impact.
The company said previous cohorts of the accelerator had already contributed to developing innovative solutions and building the human capacity needed to position Nigeria for the next phase of the global space industry.
“With Cohort 3.0, we are making it clear that the accelerator is not a pilot project but a permanent feature of how Nigeria develops its space-tech companies,” the statement said.
NIGCOMSAT noted that the Nigerian Satellite Week has grown into a major platform for policy discussions, partnerships and investment in the sector.
The 2026 edition is expected to attract top government officials, defence leaders, development finance institutions and technology entrepreneurs from across Africa.
Jane Egerton-Idehen, managing director of NIGCOMSAT, said the event also marks two decades of Nigeria’s journey in the space economy.
“Twenty years ago, Nigeria took a bold step to secure its place in space. What we are seeing today is the result of consistent effort and vision,” she said.
She added that the company is focused on shaping the next phase of growth through innovation, partnerships and investment in local talent.
NIGCOMSAT also highlighted recent milestones, including a Low Earth Orbit connectivity partnership with Eutelsat, improved revenue performance and increased global recognition in satellite operations.
Other activities lined up for the event include a Startup Demo Day, where selected African startups will pitch their ideas to investors, and a stakeholders’ forum to discuss policies and infrastructure needed to scale Nigeria’s satellite economy.
The company said the initiative reflects the growing role of satellite technology in national development, particularly in areas such as communications, security and digital services.
NIGCOMSAT, established in 2006 and wholly owned by the Federal Government, provides satellite-based services including telecommunications, broadcasting and broadband across Nigeria and parts of Africa.
The Federal Government has unveiled a N12bn Digital Economy Research Fund aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and supporting Nigeria’s long-term digital transformation agenda.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, announcing the launch of an expression of interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters.
“Today my heart is filled with deep joy as we announce the Expression of Interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a N12bn research funding scheme designed to place ideas, evidence, and research at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation,” the minister said.
According to him, the programme is being funded under Project BRIDGE, a federal initiative to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria to expand connectivity and enable a modern digital economy.
“This programme is being funded under Project BRIDGE, our initiative to deploy 90,000km of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria to expand connectivity and enable a modern digital economy,” he said.
The minister noted that as the government expands digital infrastructure nationwide, research-backed approaches are required to ensure inclusive benefits.
“As we deepen our digital infrastructure coverage, thoughtful, evidence-based approaches are required to be deployed in society to ensure everyone benefits from this significant investment,” he added.
He observed that digital policy decisions are often shaped by market forces and political cycles rather than rigorous research and long-term thinking. “Too often, the ideas shaping digital policy come predominantly from markets and political cycles rather than from research, evidence, and long-term thinking,” the statement said.
Under the initiative, six national research clusters will be established across key pillars of the digital economy, including connectivity and meaningful use; digital public infrastructure and government services; digital skills and human capital development; digital economy and jobs; online trust and consumer protection; as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The clusters will be led by up to 36 professors drawn from Nigerian universities, working alongside international academic partners, with more than 200 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates, expected to generate policy-relevant research.
“For me, the goal goes beyond research output. We are looking for better policies that lead to stronger institutions and a more prosperous society,” the minister said.
He described the initiative as one of the ministry’s most meaningful programmes, noting that it is intended to produce ideas that will outlast any single administration. “Because nations that lead the future are not simply those that deploy infrastructure; they are the ones that cultivate ideas,” he said.
The ministry invited academic and research institutions interested in participating to review the Terms of Reference released alongside the EOI and submit proposals to lead or collaborate within the national research clusters.
It added that a press conference would be held in the coming week to provide further details and engagement opportunities for vice-chancellors and research institutions across the country.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to compensate subscribers experiencing poor network service across the country.
The Commission said the directive was part of efforts to ensure that consumers are not made to bear the burden of service failures when operators fall short of required standards.
Under the new regulation, telecom operators will be required to provide compensation directly to affected subscribers for breaches of Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
According to the NCC, the compensation will be issued in the form of airtime credits, calculated based on subscribers’ average usage and their presence within specific Local Government Areas where service disruptions occur.
The Commission emphasised that telecommunications services remain critical to economic activities, social interactions, and access to digital opportunities, noting that poor service delivery negatively impacts productivity and public confidence.
It explained that while regulatory fines have traditionally been used to sanction operators, the new approach prioritises consumer protection and strengthens accountability within the telecommunications sector.
The NCC added that the measure would complement existing efforts to monitor service quality and enforce compliance with performance standards.
In addition, the Commission directed tower companies responsible for telecom infrastructure, such as network masts, to reinvest fines imposed on them into infrastructure upgrades with measurable outcomes.
The regulator reiterated its commitment to ensuring that operators invest in network resilience, expand capacity, and improve infrastructure to meet growing demand.
It also pledged to continue deploying regulatory mechanisms that promote fairness, transparency, and accountability across the industry, while ensuring that subscribers receive the quality of service they deserve.
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