Buhari Says Telecom Firms Should Put Security Before Profits
https://www.auntydebbysblog.com/2016/01/buhari-says-telecom-firms-should-put.html
Telecom firms operating in
Nigeria should not put their desire to make profits above security
concerns, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday.
Nigeria has been pushing telecom companies to verify the identity of
their subscribers amid fears that unregistered SIM cards were being used
by criminal gangs in a country facing an insurgency by Islamic militant
group Boko Haram.
MTN , Africa's largest mobile operator, has been fined $3.9 billion
in Nigeria - its biggest market by sales - for failing to disconnect
users of unregistered SIM cards.
The company, which makes about 37 percent of its revenue
from Nigeria, is awaiting a ruling after launching a December court
challenge over the fine, which equates to more than twice its annual
average capital spending over the past five years.
"President Muhammadu Buhari ... urged telecommunication
companies operating in Nigeria not to place their desire for huge
profits above the security needs of the country," said spokesman Garba
Shehu.
Buhari was speaking
on Tuesday with members of the Nigerian community in Abu Dhabi, where
he was attending an energy summit.
Buhari said telecom companies "must adhere to the rules
and guidelines" of Nigeria's industry regulator by carrying out "the
registration of all mobile phone users without exception" to help
security agents, added Shehu.
The fine imposed on MTN by the Nigerian Communications
Commission was reduced from $5.2 billion, which was based on a $1,000
penalty for each phone line.
On Tuesday MTN said its Nigerian business is likely to report about $955 million in annual profit after tax.