By Dada Ahmed.
The ongoing face off between MTN Nigeria and the Kogi State Government, following the closure of the telecommunications company’s network services in Lokoja over non compliance issue, has escalated concerns over regulatory practices and the broader implications for service delivery in the area.
The dispute,raising from the abrupt closure of MTN’s network services in Lokoja, the state capital over non compliance issue, started as a child’s play a few days ago. However, as days go by,the lull in the services of MTN reached a frightening dimension sparking significant concern among stakeholders and the general public.
Giving insight into the reason why MTN network was shut down in Lokoja,the Director-General, Kogi state Infrastructural and Utility Management Compliance Agency, KIUMCA, Alhaji, Dr. Taufiq Isa said KIUMCA shut down facilities of MTN telecommunications over failure to pay tax obligations to Kogi state Government for the past three years.
Why addressing journalists on the issue at NUJ press centre, Lokoja on Thursday, the Director Dr. Isa recalled that in October, last year, his agency sealed MTN facilities and base stations across the state, following an order of the state high court which gave it order to go ahead and shut the services of the telecom provider.
Dr. Isa, who said he led his team to seal the facilities of the telecom service provider in the state headquarters, Mount Patti, Obajana, and kabba recently, said MTN had not complied to the agreement made to meet its tax obligations.
Dr. Taufiq further explained that following the intervention of Kogi state Governor and the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) last year, the order carried out against MTN was relaxed to give room for negotiation and resolution.
The DG, who that MTN failed to renege on its promise.apologized to the public to use other means of communication or network, pending when MTN meet up with its tax obligations”,
“The default of MTN make us to enforce and seal its facilities until when the money owed the state government is paid”, he stressed.
While efforts to get MTN”s side of the coin in Lokoja on the matter proved abortive, the feeling of the people over the matter is not far fetched with most residents saying that the development has not only disrupted their communication but also their business activities.
What began as a minor inconvenience quickly spiraled into a full-blown shutdown exposing the deep reliance of the city on mobile communication and digital connectivity.
The disruption has not only stalled personal and professional activities but also highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in a digital age.
Socially, the shutdown has disconnected families and friends, especially those who rely solely on MTN services to stay in touch. In an era where communication is as vital as water and electricity, the inability to make calls or send messages has bred frustration, anxiety, and in some cases.Medical experts have also express concern that emergency situations, such as medical urgencies or security alerts, may become more dangerous if the problem continues, thereby creating heightened communication gaps. Many residents say lack of access to information and real-time updates have left them in the dark,literally and figuratively.
On the economic front, it must be noted that small businesses and informal traders who depend on mobile data and online platforms for daily transactions are suffering some losses. Many Point of Sale (POS) operators, who represent a major part of Nigeria’s financial inclusion strategy, say they are not left out of the rod of the dispute as they encounter internet challenges in the process of doing their businesses.
According to them, they are unable to process many transactions seamlessly and in some instances meet with totally failure resulting in financial setbacks not just for them but also for the customers.
As both parties continue to navigate the dispute for an amicable solution, there is the urgent need for the establishment of a consensus platform that will snow ball into an independent mediation panel. The panel should involve the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), representatives, the state government, and MTN Nigeria.
Social and economic experts express optimism that such a panel will promote dialogue, clarify regulatory expectations, and help establish a framework that will prevent future conflicts while safeguarding service continuity for the public.
Industry observers are also calling for a swift and amicable resolution to avoid further impact on economic activities and the digital infrastructure, critical to the state’s development.
Ahmed publishes The Reporters
