Tag: MTN

2Nov By dthataNo Comments

Business

MTN Nigeria Revenue Rises To N100 Billion Monthly In 2020

MTN Nigeria reported a half-year revenues of N638 billion in 2020 compared to N566.9 billion reported same period last year. The 12.5% pop was driven by growth in data revenues in the first and second quarters of the year. The company reported a 49% growth in data revenues in the second quarter of 2020 as its Nigerian customers guzzled more data in the ensuing Covid-19 economic shutdown. The revenues reported in the first half of 2020 now translate to about N100 billion monthly in revenues, a company and Nigerian Stock Market record, according to Nairametrics Research. Revenues averaged N97 billion monthly in 2019 and N86.5 billion in 2018. Key highlights In the second quarter of 2020 total revenues rose 8.5% to N308.9 billion driven largely by higher data revenues. Data r...

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26Oct By dthataNo Comments

Business

MTN Nigeria Appoints Karl Toriola As CEO

MTN Nigeria is pleased to inform The Nigerian Stock Exchange (The Exchange), the investing public and other stakeholders of the appointment of Mr. Karl Toriola as the CEO designate. His appointment is effective 1st March 2021, providing enough time for an orderly handover. Mr. Toriola is currently the Vice President: West and Central Africa (WECA), excluding Nigeria and Ghana, a position he assumed in 2016. During that period, he has overseen the steady progress of the operating companies in the region, notably the turnaround of MTN Ivory Coast and MTN Cameroon. Karl Toriola increased his stake in the telecoms provider via the purchase 920,000 ordinary shares, as disclosed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange platform. A break down of the aggregate information showed Toriola acquired...

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9Jul By BobbyNo Comments

News

Court Dismisses DSS Application to Set Aside President Buhari’s Daughter’s SIM Card Judgement Debt

  The Federal High Court in Asaba on Wednesday July 8, struck out the Department of State Services' application to stop payment of a N10 million judgement debt issued against it in a case involving President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan. The money was awarded to Anthony Okolie after he dragged the agency to court for violating his fundamental human rights over an MTN SIM card that was once used by Hanan. Justice Nnamdi Dimg alt='Court dismisses DSS application to set aside President Buhari's daughter?s SIM card judgement debt' who presided over the case, stated that only the Court of Appeal can entertain application for a stay-of-execution order to bar Mr Okolie from enforcing the payment of the judgement sum until the appeal is determined.  

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9Jun By dthataNo Comments

Lifestyle

“You Have One Minute Remaining” – Meet The Beautiful MTN Staff Behind The Voice

Are you an Mtn customer and have been wondering the lady behind the nice voices who warns you, whenever your airtime is exhausted, or who tells you that your account balance is too low to make a call? the owner of the sweet voice has been Revealed and surpringly as many people would have thought that is a white woman, the lady behind the voice is an African. Kgomotso Christopher is a South African , and a talented voice artist who has one of the nicest customer care voice. Kgomotso Christopher is the Mtn staff behind the voices: “you have one minute remaining, and you have insufficient balance to complete this call” the word alot of people does not like hearing. Kgomotso Christopher is a graduate from Columbia University in new York, USA. she has been working for the mobile ...

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14May By dthataNo Comments

News

SIM Card: Court Awards N10M Against DSS, Absolves Buhari’s Daughter

A Federal High Court in Asaba has awarded N10m in damages against the Department of State Services for illegally detaining a trader, Anthony Okolie, for 10 weeks without charge. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, however, struck out the prayer requesting the President’s daughter, Hanan Buhari, and telecoms company, MTN, to pay N500m.Dimgba delivered his judgement on Thursday. Okolie, had sued the President’s daughter as well as the DSS and MTN over his 10-week detention after purchasing a SIM card previously owned by Hanan. In a suit filed on his behalf by human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, the applicant sued all parties for N500m jointly and separately. The suit, with number FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020, sought an order to “compel the respondents (DSS, Hanan and MTN) jointly or severally to pay the...

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30Apr By dthataNo Comments

Business

MTN Nigeria Made ₦51 Billion Profit And Gained 4.2 Million New Subscribers In Q1

MTN Nigeria announced a profit after tax of ₦51 billion in Q1 2020 - a 6% increase compared with Q1 2019. This increase was largely driven by revenue from data subscriptions, which rose to ₦74 billion – a 60% increase compared with Q1 2019. Revenue from data subscriptions is expected to further increase this quarter (Q2 2020) as workers in many parts of Nigeria are working remotely due to the coronavirus outbreak. - Revenue grew by 16.7% to N329bn from N282bn in the previous quarter. - Profit before tax grew by 8.9% to N76bn. - Profit after tax grew by 5.6% to N51bn. - Net Assets grew by 35.3% to N196bn from N145bn. Service revenue rose by 16.7 percent year on year to NGN 328.5 billion, driven by voice and data revenue. Net profit increased by 5.6 percent to NGN 51.15 billion ...

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3Apr By dthataNo Comments

Business

MTN Nigeria Has Added 3 New Network Prefixes To Its Preexisting 10

MTN Nigeria has added 3 new network prefixes to its preexisting 10, which brings the tally to 13. On the 11th of March, 2020, MTN Nigeria added the network prefixes, 0704, 07025, 07026 to its Network. The prefixes, which were formerly for visafone numbers were launched 3 years after the acquisition of visafone by MTN Nigeria. As Number ranges get exhausted, new ones are unveiled. For instance, when “0803” and “0806” numbers got exhausted around 2009, MTN Nigeria unveiled the 0813 Numbering range Therefore, with the emergence of the new network prefixes, potential subscribers can purchase their new MTN lines, and opt for which of the three prefixes they prefer. For subscribers that are unsure of which Network Prefix is peculiar to MTN Nigeria, Geeky Nigeria has compiled a comprehe...

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1Apr By dthataNo Comments

News

Emeka Offor Donated N12b To Tackle The Virus; A Good Example Of Robbing The Poor To Impress The Rich

Following the outbreak of Covid-19 in Nigeria, individuals and cooperate organisations, have donated food items, money and equipment to help Tackle and the virus, and Igbo Billionaire Emeka Offor, is not left out as he donates a whopping N12b equipment in support to Tackle the pandemic. The business mogul made the donation through his foundation, SEOF. He is the owner of Emeka Offor’s Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). His actions towards the donations is Commendable. In my own opinion is that Emeka Offor N12b donation is a good example of robbing the poor to impress the poor. He is a bill merchant that make mostly southeast business men and women, including poor masses to shade tears every month end, with the elaborate electricity bill, you will see a house with just...

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1Apr By dthataNo Comments

Celebs

Vector Threatens To Take Legal Action Against MTN Over Data Tariff

Nigerian rapper, Vector on Wednesday threatened to take legal action again Nigerian telecommunications company, MTN. The hip hop star made known in this in a series of tweet on Wednesday on his official Twitter handle where he asked the company if it had any reduce tariffs package for the masses. His tweet read: “MTNNG I just checked your page to see if you have any package to help people stay informed this time. Besides the fact that I have been forced to upgrade to your new modem and the service is crap most times, is there any reduced tariff package that also works for the people? “How can I have 3TB of data and still struggle to upload a video on social media? I have legal too but I will reach out till I can’t no more then take it to the appropriate authorities. Imagine yo...

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23Mar By dthataNo Comments

Business

COVID-19: MTN Staff To Start Working From Home Monday

MTN Nigeria on Sunday said its team would start working from home as part of the precautionary measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 Mr Funso Aina, the telcos Senior Manager, External Relations, said in a statement that from March 23, workers are expected to perform their duties from home. Aina said that the telcos operations would continue to run at full scale with essential staff working limited hours on-site. “We also plan to announce the temporary closure of some of our stores.Those that remain open, will operate reduced hours and maintain strict and social distances measures. “ The situation unfolding around the world is unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes and is a reminder that we are all more connected than we ever know. “To get through this, we need each other...

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1Mar By dthataNo Comments

News

An Open Letter To MTN With Regards To Their Recycling Of Numbers

Dear MTN.. I am going to be very brief on this, but I would make my points very clear. You people had been doing “recycling of numbers” of innocent Nigerians who had not used their lines for up to one year or more, and the only remedy you guys put in place was to introduce a service known as “Keep My Line”, which you guys did not even sensitize the citizens on or make popular enough, and as a result, lots of the helpless Nigerian citizens did not even know about this service. This had cause a lot of people to loose their precious numbers just like that, only because they had the opportunity of travelling abroad for some jobs or for studies, or maybe for one serious reason or another had a good cause to temporarily abandon their main lines for more than one year.. MTN, you gu...

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22Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Hanan Buhari Denies Ordering DSS To Arrest, Detain Okolie Over SIM

Okolie dragged Hanan, MTN and DSS before a Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, over the enforcement of his fundamental human rights Hanan, daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that she did not instruct the Department of State Services to arrest Anthony Okolie, a businessman based in Delta State, who was unlawfully detained for 10 weeks for using an MTN SIM card previously used by her. Okolie dragged Hanan, MTN and DSS before a Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, over the enforcement of his fundamental human rights. On February 12, 2020 when the matter was heard before Justice Dimgba, Hanan did not oppose Okolie's claims contained in an affidavit. Upon an enquiry by the judge, who was visibly surprised that Hanan did not react to the allegations, her ...

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3Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

President Buhari’s Daughter, Hanan, Making Efforts To Evade Being Served Court Process

President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, is making frantic efforts to avoid being personally served court processes, SaharaReporters has learnt. Hanan is a defendant in suit number FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020 at the Federal High Court, Asaba, in which the Department of State Services and mobile telecommunication company MTN are co-defendants. The defendants are being sued by a young businessman, Anthony Okolie, who was illegally arrested and detained for 10 weeks at the DSS facility for lawfully purchasing an MTN SIM card, which was recycled and sold after being abandoned for two years by Hanan. The story has since generated public backlash with a more recent development of Aso Villa officials barring court bailiff from personally serving Hanan court processes. The Presidency throu...

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14Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

SIM Card: Anthony Okolie drags Hanan Buhari, DSS to court, Demands N500m

A trader, Anthony Okolie, who was arrested by the Department of State Services and detained for 10 weeks, has sued the DSS for N500m. Okolie, in a suit filed before the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, by his lawyer, Tope Akinyode, also demanded N500m from Hanan Buhari, the daughter of the President, Major General Muhammadu (retd.), as well as a telecommunications company, MTN. The suit, with number FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020, is seeking an order to “compel the respondents (DSS, Hanan and MTN) jointly or severally to pay the applicant the sum of N500,000,000 only as general and aggravated damages for the gross and unlawful violation of the applicant’s right to acquire moveable properties, freedom of movement and self dignity.” The 33-year-old man said in a supporting affidavit...

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11Jan By dthataNo Comments

Celebs

Check Out The Lists Of Wizkid’s Endorsement Deals And Net Worth

In this post, you’ll get to learn more about Wizkid’s endorsement and his current net worth. Below are the lists of Wizkid’s endorsement deals: WIZKID ENDORSEMENT DEALS (2012 – 2019) 1. PEPSI [2012] After his debut album in 2011, Wizkid signed a one-year endorsement deal with Pepsi worth $350,000 in 2012. He travelled to Beirut, Lebanon with Tiwa Savage for a Pepsi commercial shoot. Pulse reported that as at 2013, after the deal between Starboy and African Bad Girl had ended, a new lucrative 5-year deal was negotiated by Paul Okoye of management consultancy company, Upfront & Personal announced the contract extension by posting a photo on his Instagram page showing Tiwa, Wizkid and a white Caucasian female brandishing a can of Pepsi. ...

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11Jan By dthataNo Comments

Business

MTN’s $2 Billion Tax Case Revoked By Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami

Nigeria's attorney general has withdrawn a $2 billion tax demand against South African telecoms giant MTN Group, the company and attorney general said on Friday, in a closely watched case that investors say has damaged Nigeria's appeal. In a letter filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, MTN said the government had decided to drop its case and refer the issue to tax and customs authorities "with a view to resolving contentious issues". "We are very pleased with the decision of the (attorney general) and we commend him for his wisdom," MTN Nigeria's Chief Executive Ferdi Moolman said in a statement. In a statement, the office of Attorney General Abubakar Malami said the decision "demonstrates unflinching commitment to the rule of law where all statutory agencies will be allowed...

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28Dec By dthataNo Comments

News

Data Renewal: NCC Slams N2.8bn Fines On Telcos

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has fined three mobile network operators, Airtel, MTN and Globacom a sum of N2,794,022,000. New Telegraph learnt that the telecom operators incurred the wrath of the regulator having contravened the rule that bars them from automatically renewing data for their customers. This came as one of the heaviest sanctions against the operators in recent time after the 2016 landmark fine against MTN. The Commission had, on May 21, 2018, issued a directive to all network providers to desist from carrying out automatic or unwarranted renewal of data packages without their subscribers’ consent or risk N5 million fine. The telecom regulator said the directive became imperative in view of the mounting complaints from subscribers against the se...

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30Oct By dthataNo Comments

Celebs

Comedian Ogusbaba Becomes MTN Brand Ambassador

Nigerian Comedian Ogusbaba signs brand endorsement with MTN Nigeria. He wrote; Signed & sealed. I give God all the Glory. Another one thanks @mtnng 2019 we keep winning #ogusbaba #naijamocknews #laughgoeson #original #ogusbabaradioshow Nigerian Comedian Ogusbaba signs brand endorsement with MTN Nigeria. He wrote; Signed & sealed. I give God all the Glory. Another one thanks @mtnng 2019 we keep winning #ogusbaba #naijamocknews #laughgoeson #original #ogusbabaradioshow

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22Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

Leaked Memo Shows Banks Asked Telcos To Charge For USSD

Nigerian banks proposed to telecom companies to charge customers directly for USSD services, a memo seen by TheCable has revealed. This seems to contradict the public denial by bank CEOs on Monday. They said the decision “on whether, and what amount, to charge a customer for accessing USSD is entirely that of the telco company, in the same way a customer is billed for calls, SMS and data”. In a letter to the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) by the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers (BOBCEO) dated September 16, 2019, the bank MDs had proposed an “orderly implementation” of end-user billing for bank customers, “aligning with the standard practice for USSD billing.” They said: “Customers using non-bank services already pay for USSD session...

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22Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

We Didn’t Ask MTN To Charge For USSD – Banks

Commercial banks on Monday denied instructing MTN to deduct charges for USSD. In an advertorial, the lenders, acting under the aegis of Body of Bank CEOs said its attention had been drawn to a text message sent by the telco concerning the issue. “Our attention has been drawn to SMS sent on Saturday 19th October by MTN Nigeria Communications PLC to customers of banks in Nigeria in respect of the above. The message states that the banks requested MTN to start charging customers for USSD transactions directly. It also ask customers to contact their banks for more information. We wish to state as follows: “That the banks did not ask MTN to start charging customers as contained in the text message. The decision on whether and what amount to charge a customer for accessing USSD i...

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20Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

USSD Charge: FG Stops Telecoms Companies From Charging USSD Transactions

Federal Government Suspends Charges by MTN and Zenith Bank on USSD Platform

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9Oct By dthataNo Comments

Education

“How I Lost An MTN Scholarship Because Of My HOD At UNN” – Chukwuleta Leonard

A Nigerian, Chukwuleta Leonard, has narrated how he lost an MTN scholarship because of his HOD at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN. He lost the scholarship because the HOD refused to sign a document which would he needed to submit to MTN. Read his Twitter thread below.

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20Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Xenophobia: FG Gives Update On 314 South Africa Returnees

The President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has given an update on the status of the second batch of 314 South Africa returnees. We had reported on Thursday that 314 people arrived the country using Air Peace, barely one week after 177 Nigerians were airlifted by the company. In a statement obtained on Thursday, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said out of the 314 returnees, 199 were males, 108 females, while 98 were Minors. She also said that the Commission had profiled all the returnees and written to the various state governments affected to help re-integrate and empower them. She thanked Air Peace for airlifting the returnees; MTN, Airtel for supporting the returnees with data, airtime; and Bank of Industry (BOI) for provid...

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6Sep By dthataNo Comments

News

Xenophobic Attacks: MTN Investors Lose N40bn

Investors of MTN Nigeria Plc. have lost about N40 billion in two days over xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Investigation by New Telegraph showed that MTN shares, which opened at N140 per share and N2.849 trillion in market capitalisation at the beginning of trading on Wednesday lost about N30 billion or N1.07 per share to close at N138.50 per share and N2.819 trillion in market capitlisation at the close of the market the previous day. The telecom firm also shed N10 billion or 45 kobo per share at the close of trading yesterday to close at N138.05 per share from N2.819 trillion in capitalization to N2.809 trillion, bringing a cumulative loss to N40 billion. There have been attacks and demonstrations at MTN offices to protest xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreig...

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5Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

MTN Is Not A Nigerian Business, Lists Share Holders – Femi Fani-kayode

Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, FFK, has released a list to prove that MTN is not a Nigerian business. Femi Fani-Kayode released the list on Twitter in the heat of retaliatory Xenophobic attacks on MTN installations in Nigeria. He tweeted: For those who say MTN is a Nigerian business KNOW THIS: MTN International holds approximately 70% of the shares. The largest shareholders of MTN Nigeria and their stakes: 1. MTN International (Mauritius) Limited Stake: 76.08%. Worth: N1.68 trillion. (1/2) 2. Stanbic IBTC Assent Management Limited. Stake: 9.64% Worth: N213.7 billion 3. Victor Odili Stake: 3.96% Worth: N87.87 billion 4. Mobile Telephone network Stake: 2.75% Worth: N60.95 billion 5. Government Employees Pension Fund Stake: 1....

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5Sep By dthataNo Comments

News

Xenophobia: Aliko Dangote Speaks On Reprisal Attacks

Africa's richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has condemned the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa. The chairman of Dangote Group also condemned the reprisal attacks being carried out by Nigerians on South African companies in the country. We had reported that properties worth millions of naira, belonging to Nigerians in South Africa, were set ablaze with many others looted by South Africans. President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Comrade Adetola Olubajo, said the attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg. Mr Olubajo said in a statement that the mob “looted several shops owned by foreign nationals”, adding, ”but the police later dispersed the angry mob and made some arrest.” Nigerians have reacted to the attacks ...

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4Sep By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

News

MTN Nigeria shuts down outlets, service centers

The Nigeria division of South African telecoms company, MTN, has announced that it is closing shop until further notice. In a message to its subscribers on Wednesday, MTN Nigeria announced the closure of its shops and the operation of only its online platforms. ”Yello! Our shops are unavailable today. You can reach us on Twitter- @MTN180, MTNonline.com/Livechat, chat on MyMTN App. For Call Center dial 180. Thank you.

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3Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Attack On South African Businesses Will Hurt Nigerians More – Lai Mohammed

On Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described as deeply disturbing the reports that some Nigerians, angered by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, have started attacking South African companies in Nigeria. He said that targeting South African companies in Nigeria for attack is, for Nigerians, a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face, because the investors in such companies, especially MTN and Shoprite, are Nigerians. Alhaji Mohammed said the majority of the workers in the South African companies operating in Nigeria are also Nigerians, meaning that its Nigerian workers who will be hardest hit if such companies are forced to shut down for fear of attacks. He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is already taking ...

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3Sep By dthataNo Comments

Crime

Xenophobia: South African clothing store looted in Lagos

Hoodlums taking advantage of the ongoing outrage against the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa have looted an outlet of a major South African clothing retailer in Lagos. The Surulere, Lagos, store of clothing and accessories dealer, PEP, was looted by Nigerians on Tuesday evening. Videos and pictures of the looting were circulated by several users on Twitter Tuesday night. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately ascertain the specific outlet of PEP that was attacked, but the background indicated it was the one along Bode Thomas Road. The police have been responding to multiple attacks targeting South African businesses across Nigeria on Tuesday. Other South African businesses, including retailer Shoprite and telecoms giant MTN, have been targeted in Lagos, Ibadan and Akwa ...

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3Sep By dthataNo Comments

Crime

Xenophobia: Nigerians Vow To Boycott MTN, Shoprite, Other South African Business

Angry Nigerians on Twitter in reaction to killing of their fellow countrymen in xenophobic attacks launched by South Africans have vowed to boycott MTN, Shoprite, Stanbic, DSTV and other businesses in Nigeria owned by South Africans. Recall that we reported earlier that properties includings cars which belong to Nigerians in the country, was set on fire by South Africans. Shops belonging to Nigerians was also looted by South Africans as captured in a viral video. President of the Nigeria Union South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, had said that recent attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg. Mr Olubajo said in a statement on Monday that the mob “looted several shops that were around the vicinity suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.” Reacting to th...

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30Aug By dthataNo Comments

News

Airtel Overtakes Globacom To Become Nigeria’s Second Largest Network

Airtel Nigeria is now the second-largest telecommunications service provider in the country. According to the July subscriber data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Airtel gained a total of 906,400 customers in July to become second. Airtel currently has 123,327 subscribers more than Globacom that has occupied the position for years. In total, there are now 174,668,626 active GSM lines in the country. In the month under review, MTN gained 1,379 new subscribers with another 118,442 subscribers from Visafone, a CDMA network it acquired. Globacom gained 118,087 new subscribers to reach a total of 46,713,068 GSM users while 9mobile was the only operator that lost subscribers. It lost 225,283 subscribers, dropping to 15,739,967 mobile users. In terms...

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28Aug By BobbyNo Comments

Education

15-Year-Old Turns Heads At The Biggest Summer Event Of The Year

Who remembers Aroma Ufodike, the 2009 winner of the hugely popular ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ TV game show? He won a whopping 10 million Naira after answering all the 12 questions on the famous hot seat! On Friday 23rd August, MTN and Access Bank showed another glimpse of the TV show at the mPulse Planet - Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, and a 15-year-old girl gave us a curious case of nostalgia.   Children having fun at the mPulse Planet   This was the biggest summer event of the year, where thousands of children from around the country gathered to experience the year 2044, play and learn about the future of technology. There were wildly interesting segments like the Snap City (where kids took exciting photographs), Tech town (an area for kids to experience va...

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7Aug By dthataNo Comments

News

Telecoms Services Worsen Over Interconnect Debts

Telecommunications services have gone poorer in the last few days owing to a partial disconnection of telephone lines largely due to increasing and unpaid interconnect debts. It was learnt that an interconnect debt of over N165 billion among some stakeholders, including the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), clearing houses and Value Added Service (VAS) providers, is currently causing silent but serious frictions in the telecoms sector. Findings by The Guardian showed that the debt rose from N20 billion in 2013 to N165 billion as at June 2018. An interconnect debt is the one incurred by an operator for terminating calls on another network. Currently, statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that as at June, there were 174 million active subscribers, ou...

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2Aug By dthataNo Comments

News

Glo Pays N2.6bn Interconnect Debt To MTN

MTN Nigeria has received N2.6bn part-payment of interconnect debt from Globacom, sources familiar with the issue confirmed on Thursday. It was gathered that the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission, had intervened in the debt issue, which led to partial disconnection of calls from Glo to MTN subscribers. The source also said discussions were ongoing to devise a means of recovering the rest of the interconnect debt from Globacom. This is coming after stakeholders weighed into a dispute on the interconnect debt estimated at N4.4bn to avert further breakdown in mobile communication between Globacom subscribers and MTN network users, which had lasted for more than five days. As of December last year, the interconnect debt in the industry stood at N165bn. Me...

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30Jul By dthataNo Comments

News

Glo Owing MTN N10 Billion In Interconnectivity Fees – Business Day

Over 46.5million subscribers on the Globacom network have been restricted from calling any number on the MTN network in Nigeria, as both telecommunications operators battle owed interconnect fees of up to N10billion. BusinessDay confirmed from sources at MTN Nigeria that there has been a partial restriction of calls and texts from Globacom subscribers to customers on the MTN Network since last week “MTN customers are still able to call Glo lines, however, customers of Glo are unable to call the MTN network since we disconnected them for owing about seven to N10 billion in piled up interconnect fees. Apart from owing, the network operator is arrogant and will not attend meetings or respond to notification letters,” the source said. Recall that the Nigerian Communications Commis...

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25Jul By dthataNo Comments

News

MTN Retires Pascal Dozie As Chairman, Appoints Ernest Ndukwe

MTN Nigeria has announced the retirement of Pascal Dozie as chairman of its board of directors after 18 years. He is to be replaced by former chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe, with effect from September 2, 2019. Others retired alongside Ndukwe, 80, are vice-chairman, Col. Sani Bello (Rtd); non-executive director, Victor Odili; non-executive director, Ahmed Dasuki; non-executive director, Babatunde Folawiyo, and non-executive director, Gbenga Oyebode. A statement released by the company’s spokesman, Funso Aina, on Wednesday, said the men were retired following the expiration of their tenure and in compliance with applicable codes of corporate governance. Acknowledging the vital contribution made by the outgoing directors ...

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21Jul By dthataNo Comments

News

MTN Announces The Appointment Of Former Vodacom CEO, Yolanda Cuba

MTN Group has announced the appointment of Yolanda Cuba as new Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer on Thursday, 18 July 2019. She joins MTN Group from Vodacom, where she served as Chief Officer of Strategy and M&A. Prior to her role at Vodacom, Cuba was the CEO of Vodafone Ghana for a three-year period, a position that saw her named Telecom CEO of the Year in 2018. It is said that Cuba join the MTN Group Executive Committee reporting to the Group CEO, Rob Shuter. In this role, Cuba will lead the Group’s strategic expansion of its financial services and digital solutions efforts and transformation into a digital operator. Cuba said: “This role gives me the opportunity to drive digital innovation and financial inclusion across the group’s vast footprint. I’m really looking forw...

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19Jul By dthataNo Comments

News

Reasons Why MTN Changed Recharge Card Loading Pattern, Reduces Card PIN

MTN Nigeria has change the loading pattern on its recharge cards across Nigeria. The latest MTN card now has 10 digit recharge PIN and new loading code *3551*10 digit pin#, against *555*PIN#. The new development, Techplace24.com believes that below issues might be the reason; 1. To reduce Recharge card hacking and other recharge card fraudulent activities. 2. Other telecom provider might be using same loading pattern (i.e, *555*PIN#) 3. A new upgrade or change of system might had warrant the new development. 4. Change of partnership deal with recharge card producers.

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10Jul By dthataNo Comments

News

Airtel Africa Lists On NSE With N1.36trn

After last week’s suspension of listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Airtel Africa finally listed on Tuesday in a N1.36 trillion ($4.4 billion) floatation, turning the telecom company into the bourse’s third largest stock by market value. Airtel Africa’s shares climbed 10% from their listing price of N363 after the float went live. Some 100,000 shares traded at Tuesday’s debut, helping the main stock index recover from a seven-week low. The company, owned 68.3% by India’s Bharti Airtel, offered shares in its African unit two weeks ago via a London IPO and said it would dual-list in Nigeria, its biggest market in Africa. Airtel Africa, which operates across 14 African countries, had planned to list last week but the bourse postponed the cross-border listin...

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16May By dthataNo Comments

News

MTN Loses 2m Subscribers In 3 Months

Dominant telecom operator in the country, MTN, lost 2.09 million subscribers between January and March this year, we learnt. The telco, which had 67.1 million active subscribers at the end of 2018, ended March 2019 with 65 million active customers, according to statistics released by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). However, the decline in number of subscribers could not stop the company from generating N282 billion from voice and data services in the first three months of the year, as revealed in its recently released Q1 result. As at the end of March, MTN still remained the largest telecom operator by subscriber in the country with 37 per cent share of the market. The telecom industry’s data for March released yesterday by NCC showed that total active subscriptions...

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12Apr By BobbyNo Comments

News

How One SMS Changed Over 500 Lives In Abuja

Blessing Adams’ face was priceless as she listened to the laughter of over 500 students. She was filled with joy and a sense of fulfilment for being a conduit of blessing to other humans. Blessing is the only PTA Teacher in UBE Primary School Kutunku 2 Gwagwalada Abuja, where over 500 pupils unanimously chorused “thank you aunty Blessing” at the assembly ground. The excited children flaunted their new school bags containing exercise books, pencil cases and raincoats. Blessing Adams, addressing pupils of the school she nominated for the What Can We Do Together (WCWDT) initiative. Blessing was one of the thousands of Nigerians who nominated their communities for projects under the MTN What Can We Do Together initiative. She had jokingly sent a text and now, her school pupils wer...

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28Mar By dthataNo Comments

News

Nigerians Spend N767billion On Calls, Data, SMS In 3 Months

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that subscribers to mobile telecommunications services in Nigeria spent about N767.23bn on airtime purchase between November 2018 and January 2019, The figure is derived from the number of subscribers in the three months under review obtained from the NCC, and the industry’s Average Revenue Per User provided by network operators. It was gathered that, in November 2018, the monthly subscriber data from NCC showed that there were 168.73 million active GSM subscribers from MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9mobile. In December, the number of active subscribers rose to 172. 63 million while in January 2019, the country had 173.63 million active GSM users. With the telecommunications companies’ ARPU amounting to $4.87 (N1490.22) ...

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27Mar By dthataNo Comments

News

Government Insists On MTN Paying $2b Tax Penalty

The Federal Government has insisted that telecommunications firm, MTN, must pay the $2 billion tax penalty slammed on it by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. At hearing of the case yesterday, government lawyer, Tijani Gazali, according to Bloomberg, prayed the Lagos High Court to throw out the Johannesburg-based company’s application to stop it from paying backdated taxes. However, MTN’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who imposed the penalty, lacked the powers to do so. The firm had previously denied it did not pay taxes properly in the West African nation. The case was adjourned until May 7. Meanwhile, the matter resulted in MTN shares falling as much a 6.8 per cent, the mo...

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27Feb By BobbyNo Comments

News

MTN and MUSON Cap off A Fine Year in Arts with Donors Concert

MTN Foundation and the Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON) hosted the society’s donors to an appreciation concert in recognition of their continued support in the year. The star-studded event, which held on December 10th, 2018 at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos, saw MUSON board members, prominent donors, friends of the Society and MTN Foundation officials reflect on a successful year in the country’s cultural and creative space, and pledge their support for its continued renaissance. It was a night filled with serenading performances from students of the School of Music. Speaking at the event, the MTN Foundation’s Director, Dennis Okoro said, “We commend our scholars for the beautiful performance tonight. We are proud of the MUSON School of Music and have ...

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9Feb By BobbyNo Comments

Aware

Did You Hear About The MTN Season of Surprises? Here ‘s All The “Front -Row” Gist!

Where have you been?! Let’s get you caught up. MTN Season of Surprises was arguably one of the biggest things done by any company over the festive season with the simple aim of thanking and giving back in a massive way to Nigerians. It reached over 300,000 Nigerians during its 20-day run. Exact number: 325,491. Think about that. That is 325,491 people receiving a gift or free service. As far as we know, it is the largest giveaway of its kind ever in Nigeria. The numbers were off the charts! Ninety locations across the country, from Benin City to Makurdi, Kano to Calabar, Abuja to Uyo were covered. Hundreds of shoppers in 50 supermarkets got free vouchers; travellers across the country had bus and air tickets paid for; nine tertiary institutions (Colleges of Education and P...

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9Feb By BobbyNo Comments

Celebs

I Was a Disappointment to My Father – Femi Branch

Nollywood actor, Femi Branch has revealed his father was disappointed at him when he delved into acting, and wanted to disown him. Femi Branch who is a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, revealed that his father wanted him to actually become a lawyer. In an interview with punchng.com, the popular actor how his father’s expectations of having a lawyer son were cut off and how their relationship was severed. He said; “It was a serious matter for me at home when I decided to study theatre arts because my father always wanted a lawyer. It was so bad that he had to go back to the University of Ibadan to take a diploma course in law; he really wanted one of his children to become a lawyer but I could not have been bothered. For hi...

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25Jan By BobbyNo Comments

News

Again, Kogi Govt Shuts down MTN Service over N120m Debt

The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KSIRS) Thursday shut down the telecom service provider, MTN, in the state over alleged refusal to pay N120 million debt. Last November, the KSIRS, upon the order of the High Court in the state granted on the account of the fact that MTN in state has failed in her responsibility and legal obligation to discharge its tax obligations to the state. The Director, Legal Services and Enforcement of the revenue service, Jamil Isah, who led his team to seal the facilities of the telecom service provider at Mount Patti, Obajana, and other places in Lokoja, disclosed that MTN refused to meet its obligation of over N120 million to the state government. He added that following the intervention of the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, the restraining ord...

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8Jan By BobbyNo Comments

News

CBN vs MTN: In Conclusion

                 MTN It was the night of Christmas Eve when the whole house was still and even the drop a pin could be heard. But the bigwigs at the Central Bank of Nigeria and mobile network operator MTN were concluding the long-drawn out matter of the latter’s remittances and they both released statements. It was at the peak of Christmas, so it would probably have been missed by a few people. While the difference in the perspective of both organisations was remarkable, what was clear from both versions is that the matter had been resolved and MTN would no longer be required to reverse its historical dividend payments to its shareholders. However, the CBN maintained that the proceeds from the preference share private placement were irregular because they were based on Cer...

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24Dec By dthataNo Comments

News

MTN Resolves Nigeria Dividend Issue, Pays $53 Million

Telecoms Giant, MTN has finally resolved a dividend issue its been facing in Nigeria. In an announcement on Monday via twitter, the company revealed that a $53 million payment was made to sort the problem. MTN has been in hot water with the country's Apex bank, The central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for illegally transferring $8.1 billion out of the country, an allegation MTN has since denied.

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28Nov By BobbyNo Comments

News

South African Pension Fund Raises Stake in MTN to 23.6%

A South African state-owned pension fund has raised its stake in mobile phone operator MTN Group to 23.6 per cent, regulatory filings showed on Wednesday. This is a bet on the company in the middle of 10.1 billion dollars dispute with Nigeria. The Public Investment Corporation had a stake of around 15 per cent in the company before the transaction. The corporation has more than two trillion rand (143.22 billion dollars) of South African government civil servants’ pensions under its custody. The purchase price was not disclosed but shares in MTN have been battered since it disclosed two separate disputes with Nigerian authorities. Nigeria’s central bank on Aug. 29 ordered MTN and its lenders to bring 8.1 billion back into Nigeria that it alleged the company sent abroad in...

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