‘N780b fine: MTN’s challenge remains regulatory’

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has said that the Federal Government has no personal grouse against MTN, but stressed that the hurdle currently faced by the telecommunications firm remains regulatory.

Adebayo, spoke yesterday in Lagos during a tour of some major telecommunications firms, including MTN, MainOne and Globacom, reiterated that government remained committed to providing an enabling environment for the growth of organisations, especially indigenous firms.

According to him, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was poised to revamping the economy, adding that, “government has no personal grouse with MTN, the challenge the telecommunications firm currently face is regulatory.”

Shittu, who has been summoned to appear before the Senate today to clarify issues surrounding the earlier N50 billion the telecoms company reportedly paid as part of the fund set aside for the issue, stated that the simple exercise he is billed to do at both the National Assembly was to confirm the receipt of the sum or otherwise and by extension, affirm or refute the reported suit withdrawal by the firm.

“The fact remains that all tiers of government must work in one accord for the country to move forward, Shittu charged.”The minister, however, reiterated the need for patronage of indigenous Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies, noting that such would promote local content.