NCC: Why We Slashed MTN’s N1.04trn Fine

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has defended its action to reduce the N1.04 trillion fine on MTN Nigeria to N780 billion, that it acted in the interest of the stability of the telecom sector.
This disclosure was made known by the Director, Public Affairs of the NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo.
He said after considering the operator’s admission of guilt, huge investment in the country, the large subscriber base and Nigeria being its largest market, the decision to arrive at the reduction was not too difficult.

Ojobo said, “MTN wrote the commission, acknowledged that there has been an infraction and are now pleading for leniency. In the past we have also had people plead for leniency on their sanctions.
“At that time, of course the NCC board has not been constituted, no minister, the authority of the president was required for such a decision to be taken in the absence of the minister, and so the commission had to notify the presidency.

 The commission also stated that it had to weigh the pros and cons before it could arrived at a decision it considered favourable to all concerned.