By Dada Ahmed.
It all began about two weeks ago when the once seamless service of MTN Nigeria, a telecommunications giant with millions of subscribers, suddenly ground to a halt in Kogi State. Many initially brushed it off as another temporary technical glitch,a common occurrence among service providers in the country. However, what seemed like a fleeting issue soon graduated into a serious communication blackout, leaving subscribers of MTN stranded and disconnected from the world.
As the days passed, the gravity of the situation unfolded. Residents couldn’t make calls, send messages, or access data services. Businesses were stalled, students struggled with online academic work, and emergency services became difficult to reach. The disruption wasn’t just inconvenient,it was crippling. The root cause? A government-enforced shutdown of MTN facilities by the Kogi State Government over unresolved tax issues.
At a joint press conference held at the headquarters of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), top officials from KGIRS and the Kogi State Urban and Metropolitan Communications Agency (KIUMCA) shed light on the rationale behind the drastic measure. According to them, MTN’s failure to meet certain state-level obligations necessitated the enforcement action.
Dr. Taufiq Isa, Director General of KIUMCA, emphasized that the decision to restrict access to MTN facilities was not arbitrary but backed by a legal order from the Kogi State High Court. He added that while enforcement was regrettable, it became unavoidable after extended negotiations failed to produce the desired resolution. He expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and called on residents to use alternative telecom services in the meantime,depending when the issue would be resolved.
Supporting this position, Hajiya Hasanna Salawu,a director in charge of MDAs, who represented the KGIRS Chairman, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe,explained that other telecom operators in the state had complied with state requirements. She stressed that the government had a duty to enforce its tax laws and that past disputes with other firms had been resolved without the need for such drastic action except MTN.
The fallout, however, raised critical concerns about the balance between enforcement of state laws and the rights of citizens to uninterrupted digital services. While government revenue is vital for development, especially at the state level, the decision to shut down vital infrastructure must consider its social and economic implications as well. This is the major driving force the two parties leveraged resolving the problem.The question then is: could this face-off have been avoided?
To avert future confrontations of this nature, both state authorities and telecom operators must embrace enhanced proactive engagement and mutual accountability. By evolving open lines of communication, regular consultations, and early dispute resolution mechanisms will go along way in helping to prevent small disagreements from escalating into service shutdowns.
Furthermore, the need for improved regulatory harmonization cannot be overstated. The state government must work towards enhancing unified tax regime for telecoms and other national service providers. This will reduce instances of overlapping demands and promote compliance without confusion or contention.
Digital infrastructure should be considered as essential as electricity and water. Shutting it down, even temporarily, affects security, healthcare, education, and commerce. It is in the interest of the government itself to protect such services.
MTN, on its part, must ensure it maintains compliance with all statutory obligations,to the state. If disagreements exist, they should be pursued through legal and administrative channels, with documented correspondence to show good faith. No company operating at scale should allow such issues to linger until enforcement becomes inevitable.
There is also the matter of public communication. During the shutdown, many subscribers were left in the dark, not knowing why they couldn’t connect until KGIRS and KUMCA came up with their side of the incident. Both MTN and the government should prioritize timely and clear communication to the public, minimizing panic and misinformation.
Encouragingly, the issue was resolved by Friday, and services were restored. This resolution, though welcome, should serve as a wake-up call. The restoration came after considerable losses had already been suffered in trust, productivity, and revenue.
As kogi state continues to embrace a digital future, it is crucial that stakeholders at all levels recognize the centrality of telecoms in state and national development. We cannot afford repeated disruptions in such a vital sector. Cooperation, clarity, and consistency must guide future interactions between private operators and public institutions.
On a final note,the recent Kogi-MTN impasse was an avoidable incident that highlights the urgent need for reform in how state and corporate actors relate. To truly avert similar face-offs in the future, both sides must move from confrontation to collaboration,because in the digital age, service shutdowns are not just administrative tools; they constitute setback to state and national development.
Ahmed is the publisher of The Reporters.
ahmeddada008@gmail.com.
