Business
NCC Bows, Agrees To Settle With MTN
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecoms giant, MTN may have reached an understanding as both parties have agreed to settle out-of-court on the fine imposed on MTN for not disconnecting unregistered lines according to NCC directions. Mathew OMEJE reports
All seems to be well between the NCC and MTN as the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, has explained that the Commission may consider MTN Nigeria plea to settle its dispute out of court. Speaking at an international press conference over the weekend, Danbatta explained that NCC’s counsels were already talking with MTN’s counsels on the issue of out of court deal.
According to him, “I can confirm that MTN still seeks out of court settlement. MTN is trying to get this issue settled amicably. We have been informed by our own counsel that the Honourable Judge handling the case has granted the request for a settlement on the matter.
“The intention is not to kill MTN because we would like the industry to continue. We would like it to be vibrant and I think this is a matter that needs to be resolved amicably and we are working towards that”, he said.
He pointed out that MTN had filed a law suit, but that the NCC was told by its lawyers late on Tuesday that it wanted an out-of-court settlement.
While speaking on the net worth of the sector, Danbatta disclosed that ICT has contributed over N500 billion in revenue into the coffers of the federal government and that there was every indication for the current 11 per cent contribution to the Gross Domestic Progression (GDP), to rise astronomically in the years ahead.
He also appealed to Nigerians to have their SIMs registered, and unveiled an eight point agenda on accessibility of service, affordability and availability of service.
It would be recalled that the telecommunications company, MTN, had sought an out of court settlement over the N1.04 trillion fine the Federal government through the National Communications Commission, slammed on it last year for failing to deactivate 5.1 billion unregistered phone lines.
MTN, which had initially dragged FG to court over the fine, arguing that it was outrageous, at a resumed hearing of the suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos recently, through its lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, told the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, that they have considered settling out of court with the Federal government.
Following the request by MTN, the presiding judge adjourned the case to March 18, 2016 hoping that both parties would have reached an agreement before then.
The Federal government had reduced the fine to N780 billion after the company complained.
Meanwhile, the management of MTN had dared the federal government of Nigeria and said it will not pay the N780bn fine.
According a statement issued by the telecommunications firm ahead of the December 31, 2015 deadline issued by the NCC, the Public Relations and Protocol Manager at MTN Nigeria, Funso Aina, said when a case is in court, there was a limit to the comments that could be made on it.
“Suffice it to say that based on the lis pendens rule (pending legal action), all parties are enjoined to restrain from taking further action until the matter is finally determined. This is consistent with previous judicial decisions in Nigeria,” Aina stated.
He further said that notwithstanding the lawsuit, “we would continue to engage with the Nigerian authorities to try and ensure an amicable resolution in the best interest of the company, its stakeholders and the Nigerian authorities. We urge our customers not to panic as we do not envisage any disruption to our operations.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission has revealed that within a period of one year, the GSM networks have added 16,511,295 lines, an increase of 12.28 per cent.
The report obtained from the NCC, shows that in September 2014, the total number of subscribers stood at 134,507,329 lines, the total number of subscription to all telecommunications networks rose to 151,018,624 by the end of August this year. This means that within a period of one year, 16,511,295 lines, an increase of 12.28 per cent have been added.
The continued growth in the GSM networks may not be unconnected to the increasing difficulty that subscribers have been facing in recent times.
The acting Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umaru Danbatta, had at a public function in Abuja recently, acknowledged the problems being experienced by subscribers with the telecommunications networks.
According to him, the regulatory agency had stepped up its efforts to monitor and improve quality of service in the industry.
Danbatta said a quality of service task force had also been inaugurated to identify and recommend appropriate solutions to address the problem of poor quality of service from telecommunications operators.
Also, the report shows that the Code Division Multiple Access (popularly referred to as the CDMA) networks shrank as the lines in the network decreased from 2,406,382 lines to 2,125,941 lines within the one year period. This shows the dwindling fortunes of operators of the CDMA technology.
Although the CDMA operators deployed by Intercellular, Multilinks, Starcomms and Visafone preceded the introduction of the GSM technology in Nigeria, the technology has continued to decline as the GSM operators have over the years proved that they have better resources and market plan.
Similarly, fixed services declined from 190,719 lines in September 2014 to 189,523 lines by the end of August, 2015.
This shows that the growth in subscriber base in the country has been driven by the GSM operators, which include the four main service providers deploying this technology namely: MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat.
Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi over the weekend inspected the progress of the 7th Axial Road project in the Lekki Corridor of Lagos.
The project, located behind the Dangote Refinery, is a crucial cargo handling route for the Lekki Deepwater Port and connects the Lekki Corridor with the Sagamu route.
The Minister expressed confidence in China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), the project’s contractor, citing its successful delivery of the Lekki Deepwater Port and high-quality progress on the Makurdi-Enugu road reconstruction and expansion project. Umahi instructed that the roadbed filling work for Project LOT1 be completed by the end of April and directed the project team to accelerate resource input and tangible works to meet the deadline.
The 7th Axial Highway is expected to synergize with key infrastructure projects like the Coastal Road, Dangote Road, and Lekki Port, creating a comprehensive transportation hub model and boosting Nigeria’s port economy and industrial corridor. Umahi emphasized the need for environmental protection agencies to ensure efficient construction and steady progress while maintaining ecological safety.
A representative of CHEC who spoke during the inspection stated that the company would maintain a high level of resource input, implement the Minister’s directives, and coordinate safety, quality, and environmental protection to ensure the project’s timely and high-quality completion in other to unluck its port relief and regional economic benefits.
This is certainly not a good time for the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Moshood Jimoh as he has been dragged to court for commiting contempt by defying a clear court order that he and his men must not go near the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD.
The fresh suit by Drawcok Estates LTD followed Monday’s deployment of over fifty armed police officers by Mr. Moshood Jimoh to seal off the business premises of Nestoil Group which belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD despite an order by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia.
Also, despite a directive by the federal government that police escorts be withdrawn from VIPs, Mr. Moshood Jimoh illegally allocated several police officers to be guarding Mr. Sulu Gambari, the self-acclaimed Receiver Manager which was appointed by a former judge that was handling the case, Justice Isaac Dipeolu.
Recall that Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi vacated all the orders made by Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu who wrongly appointed the Receiver Manager.
Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the action of the Lagos Police Commissioner, Drawcok Estates LTD yesterday filed a case of contempt against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh Moshood (Contemnor) before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025, the applicant wants Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh to be found guilty of contempt of court and also be committed to prison unless he obeys the directives contained in Justice Ofili Ajumogobia’s Order of November 24, 2025.
Recall that Justice Ofili Ajumogobia had on November 24, 2025 ordered that the building in question belongs to Drawcok Estates LTD, adding that no police officer must be seen carrying out orders of the Lagos State Police Commissioner around the premises.
The Orders made by Justice Ofili Ajumogobia on November 24, 2025 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2385/2025 were that:
The applicant has a right to own and possess her properties as mentioned in the addresses above as guaranteed by the 34 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights..
That the sealing-off and occupation of the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above by the Respondents constitute an infringement on the right of the applicant to own property, as guaranteed by Sections 43 and 44 of the he Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
That the Respondents, whether by themselves , their agents, agencies and servants, acting for it through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to vacate the applicant’s properties on the addresses mentioned above, and deliver possession over to the applicant forthwith.
That the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies, and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, to provide security for the applicant to take back possession of her properties on the addresses mentioned above.
That the Respondents is restrain, whether by themselves, their agents, agencies and servants, acting for or through them or any other person(s) howsoever described or claiming through them, from harassing the applicant and refusing her access to her properties on the addresses mentioned above.
Nigerian Concord Newspapers reporters that visited the business premises yesterday reported that pollice officers have been denying workers of several companies access to their offices located within the Nestoil building in Lagos on the order of Moshood Jimoh, despite a subsisting court order directing that they be allowed into the premises.
The affected workers had resumed duties following a court order delivered by Hon. Justice Ofili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja on November 24, which directed that they be granted access to their offices.
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has ramped up fuel exports to international markets amid widespread refinery shutdowns in the Middle East, industry sources confirmed.
A senior official at the $20bn Lagos-based plant told The PUNCH that the facility exported significant volumes of petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), and aviation fuel (Jet A1) to foreign buyers in August, following earlier shipments in June and July.
The surge comes as Saudi Aramco and other regional producers face heavy maintenance schedules, tightening fuel supply. Aramco has already shut down two plants and plans further closures, including its 460,000 b/d Satorp refinery in Jubail for a 60-day turnaround in November–December. Kuwait and India are also scaling back capacity for maintenance and seasonal demand.
According to Argus Media, these shutdowns are pushing Gulf nations to import record volumes of gasoline, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE sharply increasing purchases from Europe and other markets in recent months.
While some reports pointed to operational constraints at Dangote’s 650,000 b/d facility, the company dismissed such claims, insisting production is on track to reach 700,000 b/d by December. Earlier this year, Aliko Dangote announced the refinery had sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco and recently achieved exports of about 1 million tonnes of petrol between June and July.
“With Gulf refiners offline, Nigeria has now emerged as a net exporter of refined products,” Dangote said.
Analysts suggest the extended refinery outages in the Middle East will further strengthen demand for Dangote’s output, positioning the Nigerian plant as a key supplier in regional fuel markets.
Would you like me to tighten this further into a 5–6 paragraph wire-style news brief, or keep it as a detailed feature-style report with more context on Gulf refinery shutdowns?
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