The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has slammed a $5.2billion (N1.4trn) fine on MTN Nigeria for failing to disconnect subscribers with unregistered SIM cards bought before January 2012.
From that date anyone buying a Sim card in Nigeria has had to register it under their name by law.
When contacted, Funsho Aina, MTN’s Public Relation Manager, confirmed the fine but said the company was preparing a statement to be released later on Monday.
He said MTN is a law abiding company that would not do anything that contradicted NCC’s Acts.
“Yes, it is true we aware but we are doing a statement which will be sent out to you soon. As soon as our boss approves it, we will send it to you. We are law abiding and we have always done our business within the confine of the Acts”, he said.
Telecoms companies were told to register their existing customers’ Sim cards, which MTN Nigeria – the biggest telecommunications firm in Nigeria – has failed to do.
The fine is the largest in the history of telecom infringements in Nigeria and may redefine the relationships between telecommunications operators and the regulator.
Nigerians continue to complain about poor services from mobile network operators and blame the regulators for not doing enough to solve the problem.
