NCC confirms MTN’s payment of another N30bn

 By Michael Okafor

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday, 31 March 2017, confirmed that MTN, on Thursday, 30 March 2017, paid additional N30 billion, being the third payment of the N330 billion fine imposed on the telecoms company for refusal to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered SIM cards on its network.

Having paid N30 billion in December last year, after the initial deposit of N50 billion, making it N80 billon as at December last year, the current payment brings the total amount paid so far, to N110 billion, out of N330 billion.

Based on the enormity of the fine money, NCC, in collaboration with the federal government, spread the payment in six tranches, after the initial N50 billion was paid.

The first two tranches, which were December 2016 and March 2017 had been paid, which includes the recent payment. The other four tranches are March 31, 2018 (N55 billion); December 31, 2018 (N55 billion), March 31, 2019 (N55 billion) and May 31, 2019 (N55 billion).

Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, who confirmed the Thursday payment, said the money had been paid to NCC’ Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

According to Ojobo, there was an agreement reached between NCC and MTN on the spread of payment of the fine money in tranches and MTN has kept to that agreement so far.

Head of Corporate Communications at MTN, Omasan Ogisi, also confirmed that another payment in respect to the fine, was recently paid.