Why is MTN Still Taking Nigeria for Granted? -By Edozie Chukwuka

Edozie Chukwuka

The change we desire requires constructive engagement. So this particular question has become necessary because change can be for good or for bad. What with the fuel crises threatening to shut-down the nation? What with mega corporations carrying on with business as usual? There is still work to be done!

The average Nigerian has a feeling that change is in the air. Change has become almost fashionable; populist in Nigeria following the triumph of the change slogan at the last generation elections. Nigerians have voted for change. And change we want!

For this purpose, I feel that the world, particularly those with some stake in Nigeria, is eagerly awaiting the Friday May 29, 2015 handover date. From word of mouth in the streets, even citizens who did not vote for change have joined the change bandwagon! But what does this amount to?

Yes, time has come for well meaning Nigerians to begin to ask proper questions. The change we desire requires constructive engagement. So this particular question has become necessary because change can be for good or for bad. What with the fuel crises threatening to shut-down the nation? What with mega corporations carrying on with business as usual? There is still work to be done!

This is why all hands must be on deck. Everybody must get ready to make a contribution to ensure the change we crave for happens in Nigeria. Citizens, individual and corporate must put on the thinking cap to come up with ideas that can help Nigeria take her pride of place among the comity of nations. Competitors must take a cue from the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan and commend the opposition when they score a good point. That is the mode that Nigeria has to go into to make the most of emerging opportunities.

Rivalry must be healthy in life and in business. The law must rule over men, not men over the law. For instance, the telecommunications segment tended to make itself a bad example lately with two rivals going head-to-head on 11 kobo per second billing. It has taken the regulator to try to restore sanity.

This must concern Nigerians as it is certain that I am not the only one to have noticed that MTN recently deployed an unapproved product/service. The concern here is that MTN would not have done this in South Africa. Would they? This portends that while Nigerian citizens are marching towards change, the mega corporations that wield influence on business and society might just be foot-dragging, probably because they are more comfortable with the old order. Translucency would only aid deceptive people score high, transparency would checkmate deception and enthrone straightforwardness. Nigerians voted for transparency. We must insist on it in every area of endeavour.

Those in authority, existing and to be appointed or sworn in must come with the mindset of equity. All must come with clean hands. We are looking towards seeing an egalitarian society in Nigeria. This is what would encourage investment, both local and global. No one wants to invest in a climate of uncertainties, where great ideas would be cloned at the snap of the finger and the originator would have no backing of the law.

It is worrisome that a company that boasted of making a significant contribution to Nigeria’s internally generated revenue by being the highest tax payer over a period of time could launch a service without approval of industry regulators, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. It is commendable, though that the NCC has moved to prove itself in charge of the situation by calling MTN to order through a press statement but it remains grievous that the operator and a segment of the media would have none of that. Are we in a state of anarchy? Why is MTN still taking Nigeria for granted?

It is illegal to launch a product or service in a regulated industry without the approval of the regulators but it becomes an affront when even with a formal statement calling the operator to order, the instruction is not heeded. Could it be that MTN considers itself above the law? Could it be that the NCC has not communicated its instruction properly?

Whatever the situation might be, Nigerians are in the mood for change, positive change at that and no one, be it regulator or operator in any segment should make an attempt to spoil the party. So I expect the NCC to assert its authority and make a good example of this situation, else other operators will follow suit and it will do the industry no good.

It might have been over 10 years that MTN set-off deceiving the people of Nigeria that per second billing was not possible. But as soon Globacom availed Nigerians of the privilege of per second billing, MTN quickly deployed the same service it claimed was impossible.

After a long time of doing business in Nigeria, with its business being by all standards successful, it is an irony that it has taken the innovation of the latest entrant, Etisalat Nigeria to avail Nigerians of the chance to talk at 11 kobo per second only for MTN to illegally latch on it.

Could it be that MTN wants to use its dominant player status to frustrate the offering of value by other players? My take is that the NCC should thoroughly investigate this and met out necessary sanctions, else such anomalies would continue and would do the industry no good. It can only ignite anarchy if other players consider that the regulator cannot control the industry.

Edozie Chukwuka, a public affairs analyst writes from Lagos.