The Federal
Government says MTN had paid N80 billion of the N330 billion fine imposed on it
for failing to deactivate more than five million unregistered SIM cards.
Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum
in Abuja, the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, said that the
company paid the sum for the first year.
It will be recalled that MTN was initially fined 5.2 billion dollars (N1.04
trillion) for failing to deactivate more than five million unregistered SIM
cards but was later reduced to N330 billion.
“For the first year, they paid N80 billion, after
paying the initial N50 billion, and they will have to pay for three years until
they will complete the N330 billion.
“MTN does not have a choice, when the law was made,
it said for every unregistered SIM card in use, the fine is N200, 000, the law
never anticipated that one company will be in violation to the tune of millions
of lines.
“It was inconceivable, so when the thing was added
200,000 times 5.2 million lines, it came to a trillion plus.
“When it happened, the MTN did four things; one they accepted that they were in
default, two, they apologised for that and three they committed themselves
never to allow such a thing to happen and number four, they asked for
remission.
“Government had to look at a number of factors
because if they have to pay this amount; they will pack up.
“We also knew that we invited the international
community to come and invest and anything that will be done which will shake
the confidence of international investors in Nigerian economy, we must avoid
it.
“Consequently, we must not throw away the baby with
the bath water, if they had packed up and left, let us assume all their staff
are not more than 5, 000, it means all of those 5,000 will lose their jobs.
“Also those who made investment, who bought shares
will lose their shares and the Nigeria banking sector would go into crisis,’’
he said.
The minister said that even in the court system, if
one was fined and could not pay for one reason or the other, the person would
ask for reconsideration either by way of appeal or bringing a motion.
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