Lokoja – Subscribers of MTN mobile phone and data services in Lokoja and its environs
are presently experiencing difficulty in accessing the services of the provider.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent gathered on Thursday in Lokoja that the development followed
the decision of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) ) to shut the telecom service provider’s base
stations in Lokoja, Obajana and other adjoining communities.
NAN also gathered that there had been a lingering dispute between the revenue board and MTN over the latter’s
non remittance of taxes to the state government when due.
The KGIRS had similarly in October last year, shut seven stations of MTN, which also resulted in disruption of
services to subscribers.
The Director, Legal Services and Enforcement of KGIRS, Mr Jamil Isah, who led other staff to seal the base stations
of MTN, said that the action commenced on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Isah, the action is due to the refusal of the telecom service provider to remit outstanding tax liability
of N120 million to the state government.
He chided the MTN for remitting a paltry N250,000 out of the amount, describing the action as an abuse of the
restraining order the state government earlier placed on KGIRS to allow for peaceful resolution of the dispute.
He said “the state governor heeded the intervention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
when its officials came, and ordered the opening of the sealed MTN base stations to allow for negotiations.
“Since then, MTN did not take any steps to redeem its tax obligations in spite of court orders, and has failed to make
payment.
“MTN has engaged in various means to subvert the order of the court.
“Only on Tuesday, Jan. 22, the MTN offered a cheque of N250,000, which we outrightly rejected.
“This is a manifestation of the resolve of MTN to disregard the laws of Kogi State, and to use other government
agencies to subvert court order,” Isah said.
He added that KGIRS would not hesitate to shut all MTN base stations in the state if the service provider
refused to resolve the tax dispute.