Nigerian regulator wants amicable relations with MTN

Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator will strive to keep relations amicable between the government and MTN Group as the two parties negotiate US$10-billion (R152-billion) of claims against Africa’s largest wireless operator.

The South African mobile phone company has been rocked twice in the past two weeks in its biggest market, with the central bank and the attorney-general accusing MTN of illegally repatriating funds and failing to pay back taxes. MTN denies the allegations and is seeking a court order to halt the process.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission is doing what it can to facilitate amicable resolution of MTN’s standoff with the tax and finance regulators,” the regulator’s CEO, Umar Danbatta, said in an interview in Durban on Tuesday.

MTN’s share price has plunged by more than a third since the crisis erupted late last month and traded 3.3% lower at R71.66 as of 3.50pm in Johannesburg. The dispute comes just over two years after the Johannesburg-based company settled a separate, $1-billion fine over improperly registered subscribers that was levied by the NCC.

The regulator still sees MTN as a valuable partner, NCC spokesman Tony Ojobo said earlier on Tuesday. Africa’s most populous country needs to be “cautious” when handling investor relations he added, acknowledging that the severity of the penalties could cause some concern.  — Reported by Derek Alberts, with assistance from Loni Prinsloo, (c) 2018 Bloomberg LP