Telecom
My Role in MTN’s N50Bn Fine- AGF
Abubakar Malami (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister for Justice, has explained his role in the payment of N50billion to the Federal Government by a telecommunication firm, MTN Nigeria Limited as part settlement of the fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Malami, in the letter to Senator Gilbert Nnaji, chairman, Senate Committee on Communications and signed by Salihu Isah, his media aide, denied any underhand dealings, insisting that his intervention in the case, which led to the company’s payment of the amount, was a product of a transparent process.
The minister added that there is no hidden transaction in relation to the planned negotiation between the federal government and MTN as against the erroneous belief and assumption in some quarters, including the National Assembly that the nation is being mortgaged.
Malami also faulted the refusal to allow him an opportunity to present his case before the lawmakers, arguing that lawmakers’ position on the issue portrayed him as being motivated solely by self-interest.
“For the benefit of those in doubt, it is so far, so good for the role my principal has played. I wish to state vividly that, when Mr. Eric Holder, the counsel to the MTN led a team to interface with my principal as the Chief Law Officer of the nation, he (Malami) insisted that MTN must show some commitment by ensuring a down payment of N50 billion.
“The Federal Government’s insistence was that no audience could be granted to the telecom Company or anyone acting on its behalf while the case is still pending in court and in the absence of demonstration of good faith by MTN.
“To this request, MTN offered to comply, and indeed complied by withdrawing the case unconditionally and to make an agreed payment of N50 billion ($250 million), an offer the FGN accepted only to grant audience to it and its counsel in relations to the settlement discussions (and without prejudice and in good faith).
“The payment was made on February 24th, into a Federal Government Recoveries Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Company also filed an application to withdraw its pending suit in an attempt to fulfil the second condition for audience with the FGN on the matter.
“This was also confirmed by the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice before it agreed to grant audience to MTN or its Counsel.
“And having fulfilled the two conditions as demanded by the Federal Government through the AGF, the MTN through its counsel Eric Holder and his Covington legal team thereby sought audience with the AGF, who yet denied going into any negotiations, but demanded a proposal of the terms meant to be discussed in writing.
“Mr. Eric Holder obliged those terms and the AGF, who quickly despatched a mail through the normal official channel to the Minister of Communications and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC inviting for their input before fixing any meeting.
“While still awaiting the responses of both, no meeting or discussion or negotiation has been held on the issue ever since. What the AGF did afterwards was to ask the MTN legal team to formally present its proposals on the matter so that technical input could be sought from all stakeholders before the FGN could grant them any audience.
“This proposal has now been circulated among the stakeholders for their technical contributions and that is where we were on the issue when the invitation of the Senate came in at a time when the AGF was embarking on a trip to attend an anti-corruption summit in the United Kingdom that he was earlier billed to attend before the invitation came handy.
“It is imperative to state at this juncture that neither an audience nor commitment was made by the AGF to MTN, who was then waiting for the technical inputs and comments of the ministries of Communications and Finance as well as the NCC with a view to harmonizing the inputs, and coordinate inter-ministerial meeting for a common position, before considering an audience meeting or negotiation with MTN, all of which were aborted by the pre-emptive conclusion hastily reached by your Committee,” the AGF said.
Telecom
Transforming Lives Through Advocacy: Princess Omoyemwen Inspires Change at MTN’s Go MAD Activation in Benin
MTN Nigeria brought its Go M.A.D (Go Make A Difference) campaign to Benin City at 360 Lounge in GRA on Saturday, March 15, with a fusion of inspiration, culture, and digital experiences.
The Go M.A.D campaign, which has journeyed through cities like Abuja, Enugu, Calabar, and Ibadan, is designed to celebrate and support Nigerians who are creating positive change in their communities. In Benin, the campaign stayed true to its mission, one of the most moving highlights at this event was the Icons of Impact session, where local changemakers shared their personal stories of transformation and service.
For local changemaker Princess Omoyemwen Adeyinka Afolabi, a sports enthusiast, life coach, and culture advocate, the MTN Go MAD (Go Make A Difference) message resonated with her journey. She’s proving that one smile, one act of kindness, and one person’s commitment to change can spark a ripple effect across an entire community. “Since 2006, I’ve been going into public schools, meeting students who can’t afford to dream big, let alone pay school fees. Sports gave me a future, and I knew I had to pass that on.”
From helping school children stay in school through mentorship and scholarships, to launching the A Child, A Skill Initiative, to founding the Edo Heritage Sports Festival and Carnival, her work blends education, sports, and cultural identity in a way that’s both inspiring and deeply impactful. Through the MTN Go MAD platform, her story shines a light on what it means to truly “make a difference” especially in tough times.
At the heart of her work is a simple philosophy: putting a smile on one child’s face can set off a ripple effect of hope, strength, and change, and MTN has remained a consistent supporter of her journey. Princess’s journey, amplified by MTN’s Go MAD campaign, is a reminder that the most powerful changemakers don’t always start with grand gestures, they start with heart.
MTN’s Go MAD campaign has already been activated in Abuja, Enugu, Calabar and Ibadan. Benin was another step in MTN’s mission to support and empower everyday changemakers.
Mr. Yomi Arowosafe, Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has commended the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO), for their collaboration with Nigerian government to deepen rural connectivity for socio-economic development of the country.
L-R: Nigeria National Consultant, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ogundipe Olubunmi; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMoCIDE), Faruk Yabo; Hon. Minister, FMoCIDE, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida; Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund, Yomi Arowosafe and West Africa Area Representative, ITU, Ali Badiel, during the Industry-focused Stakeholders Engagement Session organised by the USPF of the Commission in collaboration with ITU and United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO), in Lagos on Thursday (March 13, 2025).
Arowosafe gave the commendation at an Industry-Focused Stakeholders Engagement Session which was organised in Lagos over the weekend by the USPF in in collaboration with the UK FCDO and the ITU. The session built on USPF’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the achievement of wide network connectivity coverage in unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.
The event was attended by the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Faruk Yabo; the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida; Chief Executives of telecommunications companies, State ICT commissioners, notable industry players, trade associations, development partners, key speakers, distinguished guests and staff of both NCC and the USPF.
The Minister spoke on the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to provide enabling policy directions and initiatives towards ensuring greater connectivity in Nigeria to transform the socio-economic development of Nigeria while the NCC boss, Maida emphasized the Commission’s resolve to continue to back all USPF projects through effective regulatory measures that help in accelerating deployment of necessary digital infrastructure that support the achievement of the Federal Governments’ priority areas and ministerial blueprint.
Speaking at the event, the Arowosafe said the engagement reflected the USPF’s shared vision and commitment to expanding inclusive connectivity and that the presence of all other stakeholders at the event underscored the vital role of collaboration in achieving the goal.
He said the theme of this workshop, “Fostering Connectivity in Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth”, highlighted government’s dedication to bridging the digital divide, in alignment with NCC’s Strategic Focus Areas, the Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint, and Presidential Priority Areas.
“Together, we have the power to create sustainable and inclusive pathways to ensure no community is left behind. Achieving this requires strong partnerships among government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), development partners, and community leaders. By sharing insights and resources, we can design tailored solutions that address both immediate and long-term connectivity challenges,” he said.
The USP Secretary stated that ahead of the session, the USPF gathered input from stakeholders through questionnaires. He said the responses obtained shaped the panel discussions, focused on key strategies to foster connectivity through collaboration and partnerships, strengthen capacity building and security, and explore innovative funding mechanisms for sustainable connectivity.
He said the engagement, thus, offered a platform for robust dialogue and practical solutions that address our unique challenges and help improve telecommunications access in underserved regions, while encouraging participants to actively participate, share their expertise, and contribute to shaping outcomes that will strengthen the nation’s digital ecosystem and improve the lives of all Nigerians.
“This event marks the beginning of a collective journey toward a more connected, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria. USPF is proud to lead this effort, and we look forward to what we can accomplish together,” he said.
Airtel, one of Africa’s leading telecommunications providers, has launched a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Spam Alert Service in Nigeria, aimed at tackling the growing issues of spam messages and fraud.
Speaking at the launch event held in Lagos, Dinesh Balsingh, Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, revealed that the innovative service will be rolled out across Airtel’s 14-country footprint.
Notably, Airtel subscribers in Nigeria can access the service at no additional cost.
The AI-powered solution detects and alerts users in real-time about suspected spam SMS, safeguarding them from potential fraud and cyber threats.
Highlighting the company’s commitment to technology-driven customer solutions, Balsingh said, “this is a game changer for the telecoms industry in Africa and as we move forward, we will continue to address customer challenges through proactive tech-driven solutions.”
The service is built on a proprietary dual-layer protection system that analyses over 250 parameters, including sender behavior, SMS frequency, and target location patterns.
Capable of filtering over 1.5 billion messages within two milliseconds, it also features a centralised database of blacklisted URLs to warn users about suspicious links.
“With the launch of this AI-powered Spam Alert Service, Airtel Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering innovative solutions that enhance customer experience, safety, and digital inclusion across the continent.
“As Airtel continues to expand its footprint, it is expected that this pioneering solution will set a new standard for the telecoms industry in Africa.
“Also, as the digital landscape continues to evolve, Airtel Africa remains at the forefront, pushing boundaries and shaping the future of telecommunications in Africa,” said Balsingh.
He emphasised that as Airtel continues to expand, the pioneering solution will set new benchmarks for Africa’s telecom industry.
The initiative has received commendation from key stakeholders, including Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
Dr. Tijani lauded Airtel’s efforts in boosting Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, particularly through solutions that enhance online security and foster digital inclusion.
Similarly, Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, hailed the service as a major step in addressing the security challenges faced by telecom subscribers.
As the digital landscape evolves, Airtel Africa continues to push the boundaries of innovation, shaping the future of telecommunications across the continent.
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