NCC gives MTN two weeks to pay $5.2bn fine

Nigeria’s telecoms regulator on Friday gave MTN Group two weeks to pay a $5.2 billion fine imposed on Africa’s biggest mobile phone company for failure to cut off millions of users with unregistered SIM cards.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) imposed the penalty on Monday on MTN’s Nigeria unit, the group’s biggest market by subscribers, sending the phone operator’s stock tumbling by about 20 per cent this week, though they bounced 2 percent by midday Friday.

The fine comes months after Muhammadu Buhari swept to the helm of Africa’s biggest oil producer after a campaign in which he promised tougher regulation and a fight against corruption. The telecoms regulator said MTN failed to disconnect subscribers with unregistered or incomplete SIM cards, after ordering all network operators to do so. NCC said only MTN had failed to comply with the directive.

A NCC source has said the regulator’s decision was based on advice from Nigeria’s state security service, which suspected unregistered SIM cards were being used for criminal activity in a country facing Islamic militant group Boko Haram’s insurgency.

NCC spokesman Tony Ojobo said MTN had until November 16 pay up, but the two sides were in talks to resolve the matter. “The outcome of the discussion may affect the date. That’s why they are having the discussion so that they can reach a solution,” Ojobo said.

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NCC gives MTN two weeks to pay $5.2bn fine

Nigeria’s telecoms regulator on Friday gave MTN Group two weeks to pay a $5.2 billion fine imposed on Africa’s biggest mobile phone company for failure to cut off millions of users with unregistered SIM cards.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) imposed the penalty on Monday on MTN’s Nigeria unit, the group’s biggest market by subscribers, sending the phone operator’s stock tumbling by about 20 per cent this week, though they bounced 2 percent by midday Friday.

The fine comes months after Muhammadu Buhari swept to the helm of Africa’s biggest oil producer after a campaign in which he promised tougher regulation and a fight against corruption. The telecoms regulator said MTN failed to disconnect subscribers with unregistered or incomplete SIM cards, after ordering all network operators to do so. NCC said only MTN had failed to comply with the directive.

A NCC source has said the regulator’s decision was based on advice from Nigeria’s state security service, which suspected unregistered SIM cards were being used for criminal activity in a country facing Islamic militant group Boko Haram’s insurgency.

NCC spokesman Tony Ojobo said MTN had until November 16 pay up, but the two sides were in talks to resolve the matter. “The outcome of the discussion may affect the date. That’s why they are having the discussion so that they can reach a solution,” Ojobo said.

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Breach of broadcasting code: Commission releases list of defaulting media houses

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Monday released the list of broadcasting stations that contravened the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting code from the beginning of electioneering campaign to date. A statement signed by the commission’s Director/Head, Public Affairs, Alhaji Awwalu Salihu, in Abuja, said the contraventions included breaches of the rules on the broadcast of sponsored campaign materials.

Other breaches were the airing of campaign materials or programmes that promoted political parties or candidates within the 24-hour prohibited period, as well as unauthorised networking by a group of stations. The statement said that NTA breached the sensibilities rules while AIT and NTA both breached the rules on airing sponsored materials.

According to the statement, Rima Radio, Sokoto and BSES, Ekiti defaulted on denial of access. The further said that 15 stations nationwide breached the code for advertising and promoting a political party after campaigns had stopped 24 hours to election time. The stations included Liberty TV, Liberty FM, Karama FM, Alheri FM, NTA, AIT, Rima Radio, STV Lagos, TVC Lagos, NTV, PRTV, Jos, NTA Makurdi, Vision FM and Nigeria Info,

Others were BECOS TV, NTA Jos, Gombe Media Corporation Radio FM, OSBC TV and Freedom TV Ilesha. According to the statement, all the stations involved had been either queried or outrightly sanctioned, according to the provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting code.

(NAN)

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Breach of broadcasting code: Commission releases list of defaulting media houses

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Monday released the list of broadcasting stations that contravened the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting code from the beginning of electioneering campaign to date. A statement signed by the commission’s Director/Head, Public Affairs, Alhaji Awwalu Salihu, in Abuja, said the contraventions included breaches of the rules on the broadcast of sponsored campaign materials.

Other breaches were the airing of campaign materials or programmes that promoted political parties or candidates within the 24-hour prohibited period, as well as unauthorised networking by a group of stations. The statement said that NTA breached the sensibilities rules while AIT and NTA both breached the rules on airing sponsored materials.

According to the statement, Rima Radio, Sokoto and BSES, Ekiti defaulted on denial of access. The further said that 15 stations nationwide breached the code for advertising and promoting a political party after campaigns had stopped 24 hours to election time. The stations included Liberty TV, Liberty FM, Karama FM, Alheri FM, NTA, AIT, Rima Radio, STV Lagos, TVC Lagos, NTV, PRTV, Jos, NTA Makurdi, Vision FM and Nigeria Info,

Others were BECOS TV, NTA Jos, Gombe Media Corporation Radio FM, OSBC TV and Freedom TV Ilesha. According to the statement, all the stations involved had been either queried or outrightly sanctioned, according to the provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting code.

(NAN)

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