Nigeria’s state governors this week backed the regulator’s imposition of a hefty fine on mobile operator MTN.
The governors of the country’s 36 states gave their support to the US$5.2 billion fine the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) levied on MTN last month for failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards in accordance with its timeline, Reuters reported on Thursday.
The telco was fined 200,000 naira (approximately $1,000) per subscriber, leaving it with a total bill of $5.2 billion.
The regulator had given MTN until Monday to pay the fine, but suspended the deadline pending the result of negotiations in the matter.
MTN’s South African-based parent has been in talks with government officials and NCC representatives over the penalty since the beginning of November.
Nigeria’s state governors discussed the issue, having been briefed by an NCC executive, and ruled that MTN must pay the fine in full, Reuters said. They advised the Nigerian government to ensure prompt payment.
The newswire added that the governors commended the NCC for it strict enforcement of the law.
The situation is proving a headache for MTN, which has lost its group chief executive as a result. Sifiso Dabengwa tendered his resignation last week, having travelled to Nigeria to attempt to resolve the issue.
