MTN Services in Kogi Set to Return Wednesday After Dispute Resolution

Telecommunication services disrupted in Kogi State are expected to return to normal by Wednesday following a resolution between MTN Nigeria and the Kogi State government.

The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) confirmed this development on Tuesday. According to ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, the disagreement that led to the shutdown of MTN services has been settled, and restoration is already underway.

“We have resolved the issues. Services will be fully restored on Wednesday,” Adebayo told PUNCH Online.

The disruption, which mainly affected MTN users in Kogi, was due to a compliance issue involving the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency (KUIMCA). The agency had accused MTN of not following state regulations and underreporting the extent of its fibre optic coverage across the state.

Taofeeq Isah, the Director General of KUIMCA, explained that after he took office in August 2023, he reviewed MTN’s files and discovered inconsistencies. “After assuming office last August, I found non-compliance in their files. A four-day verification showed they covered more areas than declared,” he said during a media briefing in Lokoja.

According to Isah, MTN claimed they were being overcharged for the areas they covered with their fibre network. However, a joint verification exercise revealed that MTN’s actual coverage in the state was broader than what they initially declared.

“We went on a four-day field check with them to assess their claim. In the end, we found out they had more coverage than reported,” he added.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Congratulates Dangote on World Bank Appointment

The dispute led Kogi State to demand additional levies. When MTN refused to pay, the state obtained a court order to shut down MTN’s network facilities in the area. This action caused frustration among users, businesses, and other telecom operators who rely on MTN infrastructure.

The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service also raised concerns, accusing MTN of tax evasion and providing irrelevant documents during compliance checks.

For over a week, many MTN subscribers in Kogi State struggled with poor or no network access. Small businesses and residents expressed anger over the lack of communication and internet services.

Now that the conflict has been resolved, MTN services in Kogi are expected to be fully restored by Wednesday, bringing relief to thousands of users in the state.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION→ Telegram | X/Twitter | Facebook | WhatsApp|WhatsApp Channel|Mobile App|Instagram