Various media reports confirm that MTN Group CEO, Sifiso Dabengwa has arrived in Nigeria in a bid to negotiate with the Federal Government as regards the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on the company by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for violations of the Commission’s directives in SIM deactivation.
Dabengwa, who served as MTN Nigeria CEO between 2004 and 2006, is expected to meet with the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Umaru Garba Danbatta, Chief of staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, and National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno
According to a report by Informationng, Dabengwa has led a powerful team from South Africa to Abuja where he will be engaging the Nigerian regulators with respect to the company’s fine.
The report further reveals that Dabengwa, who served as MTN Nigeria CEO between 2004 and 2006, is expected to meet with the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Umaru Garba Danbatta, Chief of staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, and National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, to negotiate the best solution for the all parties involved.
“Any material developments in these engagements will be communicated to shareholders,” the company said in a statement issued on Monday.
MTN has a November 16 deadline to pay the fine, which was issued for the company’s failure to to deactivate 5.1 million pre-registered SIM cards, and stands the risk of not being able to renew its operator license.