The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MTN

  • MTN sharpens youths’ ICT skills

    In continuation of its commitment to empowering the youth inNigeria, MTN Foundation recently concluded Phase 2 of its ICT and business skills training in Kano, having successfully trained 500 young people in Ibadan in Phase 1.

    The training is an initiative of MTN Foundation and executed in collaboration with its ecosystem partners – KPMG, Oracle,  Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), IBM, and the Nigerian Ministry of Communication.

    Experts from these ecosystem  trained 500 students over the course of two days, exposing them to various digital tools that can be maximised for personal growth and business development.

    The free training is in line with the objectives of the Foundation, and its goal to improve individual and communal lives through social investment projects that nurture people’s inherent abilities, and equip them for the future.

    Commenting on the training, Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma said: “We are excited about the myriads of possibilities that this training avail the recipients.

    “Technology is the future and we will continue to search for more creative and ingenious ways to improve the skills of our youth to properly prepare them for this future.”

    Highlighting the benefits of the training, the participants praised MTN Foundation for exposing them to latest innovations in the digital space and empowering them to become successful entrepreneurs in their various fields of endeavour.

  • MTN, Dangote, others drag Kogi, Kwara, Benue govts before tax tribunal

    The governments of Kogi, Kwara and Benue states are to appear before the Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, to settle their disputes on tax payment.

    The three states were dragged to the tax court by MTN, Dangote, Fidelity Bank and Mrs. Goodness Echekam.

    While Kwara State Government was dragged before the tax court by Dangote Flour Mills Limited, Benue State Government was sued by MTN. Fidelity Bank plc and Obajana Agrosacks Limited also instituted separate cases against the Kogi State Government.

    Similarly, Mrs. Goodness Echekam has also filed a case against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    Read also: Kogi, Kwara, Benue drag MTN, Dangote, others to tax tribunal

    The Chairman of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, Hon. Richard Bala, who disclosed this at the inaugural sitting of the court yesterday in Jos, said,:“Our mission at the tribunal is to resolve tax disputes on a basis that is fair and impartial, flexible and speedy, convenient and affordable, with a view to promoting public confidence and voluntary compliance with tax laws.

    “We shall be fair and transparent but firm in our decisions.

    “While I and other commissioners will only be here during sittings, the secretariat Staff under the leadership of the Secretary will always be here to attend to your needs and enquiries.”

  • $8.1b: CBN, MTN on verge of striking deal

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is on the verge of an agreement over a $8.1 billion dispute with South African telecoms gaint MTN, its governor Godwin Emefiele said yesterday, declining to provide further details.

    In August, the apex  bank ordered MTN and its banks to bring $8.134 billion back into Nigeria, sending the company’s shares plummeting. The regulator alleged the firm had sent the funds abroad in breach of local foreign exchange (forex) regulations.

    “We have held meetings with the MTN Group from South Africa and we are at the verge of announcing the resolution. I am very certain that we have reached the end of the road on this issue, and I will continue to say that the sanctity of the Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI) issued by our banks remain sacrosanct,” Emefiele said.

    Aside the $8.1billion the telco allegedly ferried out of the country in breach of local forex rules, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had also issued a demmand notice of $2billion allegedly to be tax debt over a period.

    MTN was not immediately available for comment, had however strongly rejected doing any wrong in both instances and had dragged the Federal Government to court over the allegations.

    Read also: CBN probes bank customers’ enrolment in BVN

    Emefiels said the telco had submitted documents making the impending agreement possible, and that no other firm or person is being investigated for similar issues.

    MTN’s latest troubles come about two years after it agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle a dispute over subscriber identity module (SIM) cards in Nigeria, whose finances have been hit by a weak economy and volatile global oil prices.

    Nigeria, which accounts for a third of MTN’s annual core profit, making it MTN’s biggest market.

    MTN’s lenders – Standard Chartered, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Citibank and Diamond Bank – were also fined in connection to the money transfer.

  • Kogi govt telecom operators bicker over poor service

    The Kogi State government on Wednesday explained that the closure of the premises of some mobile telephone service providers and shutting of their masts was because of their refusal to pay due fees and rents.

    The government countered claims by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators (ALTON) over the shutting of facilities in the state, saying that the action was based on court orders.

    The stalemate has however affected mobile telecommunication subscribers in the state who have in the last four days encountered difficulties following the dispute.

    Affected are mostly MTN and Airtel subscribers, as the service providers are alleged of evading payment of such dues to the state government.

    The Director, Legal and Enforcement, Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Jamil Isah said some of the fees and rents have been outstanding since 2006.

    Read Also: Kogi threatens national security by shutting 150 BTS

    He said that the KGIRS obtained court order to distrain the business premises of Airtel and MTN to recoup money owed, haven adjudged that they were due and owing.

    According to him: “The major players that are affected for now are MTN and Airtel. The sites that have been shut for Airtel are just five, while for MTN I don’t believe are up to 10, so the 150 number is not correct.

    “The demanded levies, rents and fees are also not illegal. In the case of Airtel, they have not paid their Right of Way permit fees which allows them to lay fibre optic cables in Kogi State. This payment has been due and owing since 2006 There are also outstanding yearly rents payable on the Right of Way Permits for the years 2017 and 2018.

    “There is also the Annual Social Service Development Levy and the Employee Economic Annual Development Levy. The penalty for failure to pay for right of Way Permit and some other penalties are included,” he noted.”

  • MTN showers cash on content creators

    MTN has splashed cash rewards on its content creators. The cash reward was presented to them when the telecoms giant hosted content creators to a dinner and awards night at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    On the occasion, ‘3SixtyWorld’ stole the show as it went home with a total of N7.150million

    3SixtyWorld had been dropping his creative works on the MTN Shortz platform and a lot of people liked them.

    He received his first award for the night, a plaque and a cheque for a whopping sum of N3.5 million.

    A few minutes later, he was called up to receive the award for Best Local Content which was valued at N2.2 million.

    A couple of minutes later, he won the award for the Most Trending Channel on Social Media, which also fetched him N1.450 million. In total, he won N7.150 million.

    3SixtyWorld was not the only content creator that was rewarded. Arial View pipped him to the award of Best Engaged and Responsive Content Provider which came with  N3.5 million cash prize

     

  • MTN takes nurses, doctors, drugs to two markets in R/state

    Healthcare givers including doctors and nurses last-week combined two major markets in Rivers state with loads of drugs and testing apparatus.

    They rendered free medical outreach to hundreds of women, men and children who were buying and selling are the three markets.

    Telecommunication giant in Nigeria, MTN facilitated the free healthcare outreach through MTNFoundation.

     

    There was never a time when markets were seen as a place to carry out medical check-ups, receive treatment or even receive mere medical advice because of the hustle and bustle and the main reason why people are there – buying and selling.

    However, the company broke that jinx taking the medical care to the marketplace providing free healthcare services to buyers and sellers in New Layout market, Borokiri and Rumuwoji market (Mile 1 Ultra-Modern Market).

    Surprisingly, individuals including sellers who should be concerned about the number of sales trooped in to see the Market Doctors for health related reasons and they received medical examination, answered questions, prescriptions to drugs that were unavailable and so much more.

    One could tell from their faces how delighted and satisfied they were to enjoy such free health services.

    One of the beneficiaries and task force chairman in the market, Ibiene Justina Akalugbo while appreciating MTN Nigeria stated “I am really happy for what is happening today at New Layout Market, MTN came to the market to give us free medical treatment and the traders in New Layout Market are very happy because some people don’t even have money to go to clinic talkless of the health centres but today, MTN made the traders in New Layout.”

    “Even if they did not open their stalls today, they achieved a lot by having these quality drugs that MTN brought to the market. So I am standing on behalf of the traders in New Layout to tell MTN thank you” She added.

    The MTN Market Doctor had different departments from the nursing station and registration department making its way to the doctors station, and yes, a pharmacy giving free blood pressure check ups and giving out free drugs.

    MTN Market Doctor will also be visiting Oyigbo main market, Echi Eta market in Eleme, Ndoni main market next, providing medical care to the individuals in the market, just for you.

  • MTN eyes mobile banking

    South African mobile phone giant, MTN Group plans to apply for payment banking licencee in Nigeria and launch a service in Africa’s biggest economy by the second quarter of 2019, its Chief Executive, Rob Shuter, said yesterday.

    “We will be applying for a payment service banking license in Nigeria in the next month or so, and if all goes according to plan, we will also be launching Mobile Money in Nigeria probably around Q2 of 2019,” he said.

    Nigeria, is MTN’s biggest market, however the group is currently in negotiations to secure a deal with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over an order to repay $8.1 billion it allegedly took out of the country.

    The operator also faces another $2 billion tax bill emanating from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

    The telecoms giant has however denied any wring doing and had taken legal action againsr the Nigerian authorities.

    Shuter also said the telco will relaunch mobile money services in South Africa, having launched the service in 2012, but then canning it in 2016 having attracted only 2 million users, despite having a total subscriber base exceeding 25 million.

    Reuters also reported that MTN has acquired music streaming firm, Simfy.

    MTN has seen its share price plummet this year to a low of R70 in September. In mid afternoon trade yesterday, shares in the company advanced to R82, giving it a market cap of R154 billion ($10.6 billion).

  • MTN, Ericsson launch first 5G customer trial

    Ericsson have partnered to launch the first 5G customer trial deployment in South Africa.

    The trial will begin with the deployment of a 5G fixed-wireless access site at Netstar’s headquarters in Midrand.

    “The field deployment in Midrand, situated between Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria), is part of Ericsson’s continuing efforts to deliver end-to-end 5G capabilities to support MTN South Africa’s growth as well as 5G and enterprise ambitions,” MTN said.

    The 5G solution deployed operates on the 28GHz band with a total operating bandwidth of 100 MHz, using Ericsson trial antenna integrated radio units and Intel’s 5G Mobile Trial Platform to provide a 5G access point in the Netstar premises.

    Netstar employees can connect to this 5G network through a number of different WiFi access points. MTN said that following this field deployment, it is also planning to test other 5G consumer use cases.

    MTN South Africa CTIO Giovanni Chiarelli said the company has been working with Ercisson on 5G for lab tests, field trials and now customer tests.

    “Our aim is to build a network to cater for current and future required services,” Chiarelli said.

    He added that the current discussion regarding the imminent release of much-needed additional spectrum, should also include 5G spectrum in the primary 3.5 GHz band.

    “Access to 5G spectrum will see our nation able to actively participate on the cutting edge of the digital economy and we cannot afford to fall behind the 4th Industrial Revolution,” Chiarelli said.

  • MTN sues Fed Govt for N3b

    MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd has filed a fresh suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos to challenge the legality of N242 billion and $1.3 billion import duties and withholding tax demanded from it by the Federal Government.

    It is demanding N3billion general and exemplary damages and legal costs from the defendant.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke yesterday adjourned the suit until December 3 for hearing after counsel confirmed that motions have been filed and served on parties.

    MTN, in the suit filed on September 10, is challenging the legality of the Attorney-General of the Federation’s assessment of its import duties, withholding tax and value added tax amounting to N242 billion and $1.3 billion.

    It is contending that the purported “revenue assets investigation” allegedly carried out by the Federal Government  for the period of 2007 to last year, and its decision conveyed through the Office of the AGF by an August 20 letter, violates the provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The plaintiff sought a declaration that the AGF acted in excess of its powers by purporting to direct through its letter of May 10 a “self-assessment exercise” which usurps the powers of the Nigerian Customs Service to demand payment of import duties on importation of physical goods.

    MTN sought a declaration that the AGF acted illegally by usurping the powers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to audit and demand remittance of withholding and value added taxes.

    It is praying the court to hold that the purported self-assessment exercise instituted by the AGF via its May 10 letter is unknown to law, and therefore null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

    It prayed for a declaration that the AGF’s demand of the sums is premised on a process that is malicious, unreasonable and made on incorrect legal basis.

     

    MTN prayed for an order vacating the AGF’s demand letter for N242 billion and $1.3 billion, and claimed N3 billion general and exemplary damages, as well as legal costs.

    But, the AGF, in his preliminary objection, argued that the plaintiff was statute-barred, having not filed the suit within three months from the date the cause of action arose.

    The AGF argued that the plaintiff commenced the suit in violation of Section 2 of the Public Officers Protection Act, which provides that any action commenced against a public officer must be made within three months from commencement of cause of action.

    AGF contends that the plaintiff’s failure to commence the suit within three months as stipulated by law robs the court of jurisdiction to entertain it.

    MTN earlier filed a separate suit against the AGF and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which is pending before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court and will be heard December 4.

    In the suit, MTN is challenging the $8,134,312,397.63 demanded from it by the CBN over alleged forex remittance infractions.

    It is praying the court to restrain the CBN and the AGF from imposing punitive sanctions against it.

    The CBN accused MTN Nigeria of improper dividend repatriations and demanded that $8.1 billion be returned “to the coffers of the CBN”.

    The Federal Government also accused MTN of unpaid taxes on foreign payments and imports, asking it to pay approximately $2billion in relation to the taxes.

    According to the CBN, MTN and four banks – Standard Chartered Bank, Citi Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Diamond Bank – deliberately flouted the “laws and regulations…including the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 and the Foreign Exchange Manual, 2006.”

    The banks allegedly colluded with MTN, using irregular Certificates of Capital Importation (CCI), to illegally remit foreign exchange abroad. The four banks were slammed a combined N5.87 billion fine.

    MTN denied the allegations and subsequently filed the suit.

     

  • MTN impacts lives through foundation

    MTN is contributing back to the economy came up with an initiative, the MTN Foundation. The Foundation was launched in 2005 with the main aim of improving the quality of life of the Nigerian people. About 13 years have passed since the Foundation kicked off and within that time, it has impacted lives positively through several social investment programmes in the Economic, Health, and Education sector.

    The Foundation since its inception has been giving out scholarships every year to college students with each scholarship worth about N200, 000 (Two hundred thousand Naira) that covers tuition, book allowance and stipend for each academic year. In 2018 alone, a total of 1,164 students comprising 1,068 Science and Technology students and 96 blind students were awarded scholarships.

    Commenting on the effort of the Foundation in securing a bright future for everyone in the country, the Director of the Foundation, Dennis Okoro, while speaking at the Awards ceremony and Scholarship Alumni induction of the foundation held in Owerri said; “Through the MTN foundation, Numerous resources and energy had been invested into communities with the goal of building better relationships, working together to build a brighter future for all.” It is worth knowing that despite the global socio-economic situation, the Foundation has given out a total of 8,454 scholarships valued at approximately N1.6 billion to students in the country.

    In an effort to also help people with disabilities realise their potential and find their purpose in life, the Foundation decided to assist some visually impaired individuals from different parts of the country as parts of its Scholarship scheme. It also organized a workshop for the visually impaired individuals that majored on how they can make the most of new and disruptive technologies.

    Moving aside from the Education sector, the Foundation also focuses on developing communities and making life easier for people. To date, over 400 communities including 347 LGA’s have benefited from the Foundation as it has provided over 40 transformers, installed 40 boreholes, furnished various schools and provided medical equipment to more than 80 primary health centers in the country.

    A unique avenue for which the Foundation impacts life is by taking up the costs of individuals with the serious life-threatening condition. It sorted out the operation of an 8 – year old Oluwatosin Williams who had problems with her heart valve, a six-year-old Ngozi Chijioke who had a hole in her heart and had about 4 weeks to live, a little boy named Great Nkor who got his face burnt beyond recognition in a domestic accident and many other people.