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  • Alleged breach of Act: MTN CEO, others evading prosecution – FCCPC

    Alleged breach of Act: MTN CEO, others evading prosecution – FCCPC

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Mr Karl Toriola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, and others were evading service of court documents on them.

    FCCPC, through its lawyer, Nsitem Chizenum, told Justice Hauwa Yilwa upon resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday.

    FCCPC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/354/2024, dragged the MTN Nigeria Communications Plc; Toriola; Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, and Ikenna Ikeme, General Manager, Regulatory Affairs of MTN, to court  as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    They were preferred with two counts in the charge, dated July 19, 2024, and filed July 22, 2024 by a team of lawyers led by Akoji Achimugu.

    The defendants would be arraigned over alleged failure to produce documents and information required by the commission in compliance with a lawful summons contrary to the FCCPC Act.

    Earlier the matter was fixed for May 28 for the defendants to take their plea. When the matter was called on Wednesday, none of the defendants was in court.

    The lawyer who appeared for FCCPC, Chizenum, told the judge that it was obvious that the defendants were not in court.

    He said on the last adjourned date, the court hinted that it was the duty of the prosecution to bring the defendants to court, hence, efforts were made to produce them in court today.

    “We have made several efforts and we equally used the bailiff of this court to serve them but it seems they were evading service my lord,” he said.

    The lawyer also told the court that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had been involved and that their application was being processed by the NPF with a view to produce the defendants in court.

    “In the circumstance, we ask for an adjournment to enable us bring the defendants for arraignment my lord,” he said.

    Justice Yilwa subsequently adjourned the until Sept. 25 for arraignment.

    In count one, the MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, Toriola, Okigbo and Ikeme were alleged to have on or about June 18, 2024 did without sufficient cause failed to produce documents and or information which they were required to produce, “in compliance with a lawful Summons and Request to Produce dated May 17, 2024.”

    The commission alleged that the compliance with same summon was further extended by a letter dated June 5, 2024 and they thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.

    In count two, the defendants were alleged to have “on or about June 18, 2024, in furtherance, and continuation of extant refusal to produce documents and supply information required by the commission under statutory notice and demand, did impede and obstruct the FCCPC’s ongoing limited initial inquiry and possible prospective investigation by refusing to produce and supply documents and or information” requested.

    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 111 (1) of the FCCP Act, 2018, and punishable under Section 111 (2) of the same act.

    The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) had, in another matter, filed charge against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd; its CEO, Toriola; MTN Senior Executive Officer, Nkeakam Abhulimen; Fun Mobile Ltd, a telecommunications service provider; and Yahaya Maibe, its CEO.

    The NCC, in the three-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 presently before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a sister court, filed it on March 20, 2024.

    The prosecution had alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business, infringed musical works of Maleke Moye, an artiste, without his consent and authorisation.”

    The commission alleged that the defendants used Maleke’s musical works and sound recordings with subsisting copyright, known as “caller ring back tunes” without the authorisation of the artiste, among others.

    The copyright commission said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Justice Ekwo had, on Feb. 25, adjourned the matter until May 15 for report, following the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)’s interest to take over the case.

    However, the matter could not proceed on May 15 because the court did not sit.

  • Resolving the telecoms service disruptions in Kogi State – By Okoh Aihe

    Resolving the telecoms service disruptions in Kogi State – By Okoh Aihe

    Just when you think you have heard or seen it all in the convoluting story that is the nation’s telecommunications industry, you find out that the story hasn’t really started at all. In fact, more things begin to emerge from the cauldron of mysteries in the manner of what they call stranger than fiction.

    Only last week, the misunderstanding between Kogi State and telecommunications service provider, MTN, boiled over, resulting in major service disruptions in the state. The likelihood of this development was very strange to my understanding because it didn’t look plausible that a state would intentionally want to jeopardise the possibility and opportunities for her people to communicate or transact business. But there it was, a normal business misunderstanding had been allowed to fester into a major wrench.

    My initial doubt was quickly evaporated by the harsh words billowing out from officials  of the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency (KUIMCA) and Kogi Inland Revenue Service (KIRS), who accused MTN of refusing to comply fully with the rules of operation as stipulated in the official gazette guiding their operation in the state.

    “On my assumption of office last August, I went through their files and discovered that they have not fully complied with the rules guiding their operations in the state. I called them for a discussion where they complained of being overbilled concerning the area of the state covered by their optic fibre. I went with them for a verification exercise to assess their claim, which took about 4 days, and we found out they were even covering more areas than they claimed. We asked them to go and make the necessary payment, but MTN refused. That is why we sealed off their facilities after obtaining a court order to do so,” Dr Taofeeq Isah, Director General of the agency told a team of journalists.

    The action of the agency, this writer gathered, affected about 14 base stations, some of which are super base stations directly impacting about 147 sites. The agency cut some fibres and planted some state security personnel in the locations in order to effect a complete shut down. It is very likely that the shut down of the the operator’s services may be more extensive and damaging than the state can ever contemplate.

    This is not very comforting especially for a nation that considers telecommunications infrastructure as part of the national critical infrastructure that must be insilutated from wilful damage except through force majeure. The telecoms infrastructure is very much part of the nation’s security architecture which calls for maximum attention and protection today, especially because of growing security challenges. Which is why the action of the state should have attracted the attention of the National Security Adviser. I do not want to assume that his plate is too full to find a place for a very unlikely development that has lingered in Kogi for over two weeks.

    But does the State have a right to engage with operators and make some demands? It is my considered opinion that in a federation, Kogi is free to carry out engagements with those conducting businesses in the state but such engagements must be reasonable and within limits in order not to harm the state.

    There are always demands on any sector that is succeeding and the telecommunications sector has endured worse things, even globally. The sector is seen as low hanging fruits to bring easy money to the various governments. The belief is that operators are very rich.

    Only in 2023, in communications with the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), four major mobile operators – Airtel, Globacom, MTN and 9Mobile who are memebers of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), bemoaned a plethora of 54 different taxes levied on them which made it difficult for them to expand services or even make good returns, pleading with the regulator to take their concerns to the government.

    The pressure on the operators comes from the federal and state governments and Kogi only escalated the demand to an intolerable level in what looks more of sabotage backed by the state courts. For instance, a 2019 state law which makes right of way (RoW) renewable was also made retroactive and it put pressure on operators to make all kinds of payments. The state law is a subect of litigation.

    If you ask my opinion, Kogi State shouldn’t be on the lane it is at the moment. I will give a few reasons. One. Kogi state is like an ‘ungoverned space’ in terms of telecoms development and deployment. Only recently, this writer raised alarm that going through the state, there was hardly any service in the major roads leading into and out of Kogi. Should there be an emergency what will the person on the road do?

    Two. This writer is aware that the regulator has been making appeals to state governments to waive right of way (RoW) charges so as to attract more investments that will in turn lead to development. At the moment, seven states have jumped on board while quite a number are on the waiting list, weighing all the options. It is nearly anachronistic or even anathema to be making the kind of oppressive revenue demands with officials making a gloat of their action.

    Three. And this should be of grave concern to the Kogi government. The state should worry about people’s impression of its activities. Two industry sources told this writer that Kogi is the worst state to do business in Nigeria because officials torment business operators with state laws and state courts.

    They maintained that blinded by its revenue objective, the state doesn’t care about what happens to its people. “The implication of what is happening is that they are destroying the economy of the state while punishing their people. What is happening is strange and the victims are the people,” they explained.

    They also informed that businesses watch how other corporate bodies are being treated. No investor will want to go to Kogi in a hurry, they said.

    I am persuaded to agree with them. My position always is that as a people our fidelity to statistics is highly questionable.  It’s either we base our population on projections and assumptions or we are forever rebasing to generate friendly figures. Were the Kogi state government to do an  impact analysis of its action on the people and businesses in the areas affected, I am sure it would have canvassed for a more conciliatory resolution. But there will always be the hardliners who are ever ready to push the government over the cliff with sugar-coated arguments based on illogic. Unfortunately, they always have the prominent seats at the table.

    The telecoms impasse in Kogi State has no place in common sense. The state is on a path not steeped in modernity. Perception of the state is already very bad – in the news for violent politics and sundry criminality. The state should be doing more to attract investors and not drive them away. Telecoms is a ready product to market a state.

  • MTN under attack as hackers breach network

    MTN under attack as hackers breach network

    MTN Nigeria on Friday, April 25, confirmed that it was recently targeted in a cyber attack but has moved to calm concerns, assuring customers, partners, and stakeholders that its key systems and customer data were not compromised.

    The telecoms giant in a statement released on Thursday, April 24, revealed that it had detected unauthorized activity within its network, and had acted swiftly to isolate and neutralize the threat.

    The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola disclosed that the attackers had sough to disrupt operation, but their attempts were unsuccessful.

    He emphasized that the incident did not affect Nigeria specifically, and critical infrastructure, including customer information and core business functions, remained secure.

    “We take cybersecurity very seriously and have robust systems in place to detect, isolate, and neutralize threats. Although this attack attempted to breach our defenses, our security protocols worked as intended, and our core infrastructure remains secure,” Toriola stated.

    The telecom giants did not however reveal the nature or origin of the cyberattack on its systems, cybersecurity analysts warn that telecom companies across Africa are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals. This growing threat is linked to the sector’s vast subscriber base and the continent’s rapidly expanding digital economy.

    An internal source within MTN confirmed that the breach did not affect operations in Nigeria, reinforcing the company’s earlier statement that local infrastructure and services remain intact.

    The attack comes at a time when Nigeria is accelerating its digital transformation agenda, an ambitious effort that places increased responsibility on service providers to strengthen their cybersecurity protocols.

    MTN has pledged to work closely with cybersecurity experts and government authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. The company also affirmed its commitment to bolstering its systems and defenses to prevent future breaches and safeguard customer trust.

  • MTN reacts to allegations of stealing customers data

    MTN reacts to allegations of stealing customers data

    The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has refuted allegations that the telecom company engages in the theft of customer data.

    He noted that this accusation has been a recurring issue throughout his career in various markets, as reported by MyJoyOnline, a Ghanaian online news outlet, on Wednesday.

    His remarks come amid a surge of similar concerns in Nigeria, where subscribers are also accusing the nation’s largest telecom provider, which boasts over 80 million users, along with other operators, of unjustly depleting their data allowances.

    Customers are said to have inundated the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) with emails and messages, urging an investigation into the unexplained consumption of their data.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the telecom operators involved have denied any practices aimed at siphoning data, attributing the increased usage to the transition from 3G and 4G networks to 5G, as well as a rise in video streaming activities.

    During a press conference at MTN House in Accra, Blewett addressed the common perception that data loss is a result of intentional manipulation.

    “I’ve heard ‘You’re stealing my data’ in every country I’ve worked—not just at MTN,” Blewett said, reflecting on his long industry tenure, adding, “I swear to God as my witness: we have no reason to steal your data.”

    Blewett argued that there’s no financial incentive for such actions, noting his bonus depends on declared revenue.

    “If I steal data, I can’t report it—I’d lose my bonus,” he said, seeking to dispel notions of profit-driven manipulation by MTN or its peers.

    He attributed rapid data depletion to enhanced networks, not foul play.

    “A better network speeds up data use,” he strssed.

    “YouTube switches to higher resolution on stronger signals—it’s like Pac-Man eating your data. We don’t control that,” he added.

    To build trust, Blewett highlighted MTN’s oversight mechanisms.

    “We’re independently audited—billing errors would fail our financials,” he said.

  • MTN, top executives dragged to Abuja court

    MTN, top executives dragged to Abuja court

    The Federal Government has filed a legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja against MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and three of its senior officials for allegedly withholding information requested by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

    Among those charged alongside MTN in the criminal proceedings are the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola; Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo; and General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Ikenna Ikeme.

    The telecom giant and its executives, in the two-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/354/2024,  allegedly failed to comply with a lawful request to produce documents, which constitutes an offence under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018.

    The charge, filed by the FCCPC on behalf of the Federal Government, states: “That you, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola (M), Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo (M) and Mr. Ikenna Ikeme (M) on or about the 18th day of June, 2024, at Plot 2784, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, without sufficient cause, failed to produce documents and/or information which you were required to produce, in compliance with a lawful summons and request to produce, dated May 17, 2024, which compliance with same was further extended by a letter dated June 5, 2024, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.”

    “That you, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola (M), Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo (M) and Mr. Ikenna Ikeme (M) on or about the 18th day of June, 2024, at Plot 2784, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, in furtherance, and continuation of extant refusal to produce documents and supply information required by the commission (FCCPC) under statutory notice and demand did impede and obstruct the FCCPC’s ongoing limited initial inquiry and possible prospective investigation by refusing to produce and supply documents and/or information in compliance with a lawful summons and request to produce, dated May 17, 2024, which compliance with same was further extended by a letter dated June 5, 2024, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 111 (1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and punishable under Section 111 (2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.”

    When the case came up before Justice H.J. Yilwa on Monday, the defendants were absent. In response, the FCCPC’s legal representative, Chizenum Nsitem, informed the court that although the case had been scheduled for the arraignment of the defendants, he had just been briefed and needed time to review the case file.

    Justice Yilwa subsequently adjourned the matter to May 28 for arraignment.

  • Forgive and forget – MTN begs customers over tariff hike

    Forgive and forget – MTN begs customers over tariff hike

    Mobile network operator, MTN has taken to social media to tender an apology to its customers following widespread complaints about a sudden 200% increase in the price of its popular 15GB data bundle.

    The hike, which raised the cost of the 15GB weekly plan from ₦2,000 to ₦6,000, stirred an outrage with many customers expressing their displeasure.

    Reacting, the telecommunication giant, in a message on Thursday acknowledged the backlash from its customers and admitted fault in an informal, conversational tone.

    The statement read, “To our 15G digital bundle lovers. You dey vex. We know. We know how upsetting it must have been to suddenly wake up to a 200% increase on your favourite digital bundle.

    “We could share several reasons, and provide explanations, but omo, all that one na story. We don cast. We get it and admit it. Let’s just say na mistake.”

    The company continued its appeal, urging customers not to remain angry, “In this love season, don’t stay angry with us. Please forgive and forget. You matter die and we will never stop showing you how much. Let’s continue our relationship. Thank you for your understanding.”

  • 24hrs to Valentine’s Day, NLC orders workers, citizens to boycott MTN, Airtel, Glo over tarriff hike

    24hrs to Valentine’s Day, NLC orders workers, citizens to boycott MTN, Airtel, Glo over tarriff hike

     

    24hours to Valentine’s Day, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has asked Nigerian workers, willing citizens to boycott the services of MTN, Airtel and GLO services from today, February 13, 2025.

    Saint Valentine’s day is celebrated worldwide.

    The umbrella labour body also asked telecommunication companies to reverse the implementation of tariff hike until a committee set up by the Federal Government completes its work.

    The Congress said that beginning from Thursday, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens should boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM until the end of February 2025.

    The NLC took the decision at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    This was contained in a communique signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the Congress directed all workers and citizens to suspend the purchase of Data from these companies which has also become one of their greatest tools for exploiting Nigerian citizens.

    The communique reads: “CWC demands an immediate reversal of the tariff hike, which took effect today, and insists that the companies revert to the previous tariff until the committee completes its deliberations and reaches a conclusive agreement.

    As a first step in resisting this arbitrary tariff hike, the CWC has directed that, beginning Thursday, February 13, 2025, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM until the end of February 2025.

    All workers and citizens are urged to suspend the purchase of Data from these companies which has also become one of their greatest tools for exploiting Nigerian citizens.

    We also demand the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these companies.

    “If the telecommunications companies fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025, a total shutdown of their operations nationwide will commence from March 1, 2025.”

    The NLC directed its affiliates to commence immediate sensitisation and mobilisation of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions.

    “All NLC Affiliate Unions are requested to mobilize their members across the country to observe electronic silence during the designated hours.

    “We implore all of our Civil society allies and other interested stakeholders are to join us in making this action effective,” the Congress said.

    On the tax reform bills, the NLC said: “The CWC also reviewed the ongoing discussions around the Tax Reform Bills being considered by the government. While acknowledging the need for fiscal reforms, the Congress insists that any tax policies must be designed to alleviate the burdens on Nigerian workers and not worsen the existing economic hardship. The NLC shall engage with relevant authorities to ensure that tax reforms are fair, equitable, and worker-friendly,” it said.

    It added: “The Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens. The CWC calls on all Nigerians to unite in this struggle against exploitative economic policies and to actively participate in the outlined actions to demand justice and fairness in telecommunications, taxation, and transportation policies.”

  • MTN implements NCC directive, hikes prices of data, SMS

    MTN implements NCC directive, hikes prices of data, SMS

    MTN, Nigeria’s largest telecommunications operator on Tuesday commenced implementation of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s approved tariff hike by increasing its data prices.

    A check by NAN using the *312# code on the MTN network showed the revised MTN data prices.

    For the monthly plans, MTN 1.8GB now goes for N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000; the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, a rise from N4,500.

    The 20GB monthly plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, among others.

    Text messaging on the network has also increased to N6.00 reflecting the 50 per cent hike, while hike in voice calls rates are yet to be ascertained.

    Other mobile operators comprising Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile are yet to update their data prices as at the time of filing this report.

    Some subscribers, who spoke with NAN, said they were surprised by MTN’s haste in implementing the tariff increase.

    An Educationist and MTN Subscriber, Mrs Halima Balogun, lamented MTN’s haste in adjusting its tariff.

    Balogun said that other networks were yet to implement the hike.

    “We, the subscribers, are yet to come to terms with the announcement of proposed hike, only for the increase to be implemented.

    “I was about purchasing my 1.5GB at N1000, only to discover that it has been increased to N1,500, this left me stranded because I had planned on spending only N1000.

    “It would have been ideal if we were given a week’s notification before the new prices were made public to enable one to be prepared,” she said.

    A 200-level Student of University of Lagos, Mr Edoziem Olunwa, described the increased MTN tariff as frustrating.

    Olunwa said that the increase was coming at a time when things were becoming increasingly difficult, even as students.

    “As a Computer Science student, I was struggling to help myself with the 20GB which was N5,500 but the additional N2000 is like a burden.

    “Over the weekend, there was outage on the network, which was addressed but could still be better. These are the things we want the network to address,” he said.

    Another Subscriber, Mr Abdulwahab Fatoki, expressed optimism that the increase would herald effective and efficient service.

    Fatoki said that from the day the announcement of the proposed tariff hike was made, it was obvious that there was no going back so the best bet was to be prepared.

    All the subscribers, however, expressed optimism that with the increment there would also be increased quality of service.

    All efforts to speak with MTN officials before filing the report failed.

    NAN reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry’s regulatory body had approved a maximal increment of 50 per cent tariff adjustments to operators.

    The Commission said its approval, though less than the 100 per cent hike demanded by operators, was in response to prevailing operational costs.

    It said that its decision was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.

    The NCC said that, while recognising the concerns of the public, the decision was made after extensive consultations with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

    “The NCC recognises the financial pressures faced by Nigerian households and businesses and remains deeply empathetic to the impact of tariff adjustments,’ the NCC said in a statement.

    It noted that these adjustments would support the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity.

    The NCC added that consumers would benefit from better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage within the country.

  • Debt: NCC grants MTN approval to disconnect top telecom firm

    Debt: NCC grants MTN approval to disconnect top telecom firm

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the disconnection of Exchange Telecommunications Ltd. from MTN Nigeria network due to the non-settlement of interconnect charges.

    The commission made this known in a public notice signed by Mr Reuben Muoka, the Public Affairs Director at NCC, on Friday.

    Exchange Telecommunications is a local and international interconnect carrier.

    “The Nigerian Communications Commission hereby notifies the public that approval has been granted for the disconnection of Exchange Telecommunications Ltd. (Exchange) from MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. (MTN) as a result of non-settlement of interconnect charges,” NCC said.

    The commission noted that the Exchange was notified of the application and was given opportunity to comment and state its case.

    It said that the commission, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness, determined that the Exchange does not have sufficient reason for non-payment of the interconnect charges.

    NCC said the disconnection of the Exchange Telecommunications to MTN was in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 and the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators, 2012.

    “At the expiration of five days from the date of this notice, MTN will discontinue passing voice and data traffic through Exchange and will, thereafter, utilise alternative channels in interconnecting with other network service
    providers.

    “Please note that this disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the commission,” it said.

  • MTN donates N1bn, 4,600 digital devices to FG

    MTN donates N1bn, 4,600 digital devices to FG

    Nigeria vice President Kashim Shettima has lauded the donation of N1 billion to the Federal Government’s Food Support Programme, and 4,600 units of digital devices for distribution to schools by telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria.

    He said the gesture by the telecommunications outfit towards the government’s efforts in addressing hardship in the country is worthy of emulation and indicative of its commitment to the development of the Nigerian economy.

    “I am hugely proud of your (MTN’s) stability as a company and commitment to the progress of our country. We have witnessed a couple of changes in the industry, but you have remained stable and strong.

    “On behalf of my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I want to sincerely thank you for this gesture”, the Vice President said on Friday when he received the Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

    Shettima said the donation by the company would be judiciously managed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    On the distribution of 4,600 digital devices, each pre-installed with the U-lesson application, the Vice President said the MTN team would liaise with his office to work on the beneficiary criteria and facilitate the distribution of the devices to secondary schools in the six geo-political zones.

    He expressed confidence that the gesture by the company would go a long way in supporting the government’s efforts to address the situation in the country, including support for the educational needs of the poor and vulnerable.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of MTN Nigeria commended the Federal Government for its efforts to revive the economic fortunes of the country through various initiatives rolled out across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government.