For the second time in three weeks, Nigeria’s consumer authorities have shut down the Abuja regional headquarters of mobile telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria for flouting the operational guidelines in its dealings with Nigerian subscribers to its network.
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) threatened to press for the withdrawal of MTN’s operating licence if the company continues to flout the operational guidelines in its dealings with Nigerian subscribers to its network.
CPC had earlier this month shut down the same office, over MTN�s Y�ello Times Promotions which the agency said was unlawful and in contravention of rules and regulations, having not being duly registered and subjected to the scrutiny of the consumer rights agency.
MTN�s employees and customers were taken unawares at about 09:50 as officials of the CPC and a team of armed policemen swooped on the no 4 Madeira Street, Maitama district, Abuja, and put it under lock and key.
The rather swift operation had an immediate impact as the policemen at the gate in a bid to enforce the action turned customers streaming into the premises back. Desperate customers who had gone to the office for one reason or the other were stranded and made efforts to gain entrance but to no avail.
However, vehicles and persons going out of the premises were allowed to leave.
ThisDay learnt that MTN�s offices in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Owerri, Imo state, were similarly shut down in a renewed offensive launched against the company by the CPC.
Giving reasons for the repeated raid, CPC’s Emmanuel Ataguba said the action had become necessary because all its entreaties to make MTN comply with the rules like other telecommunication companies in the country have failed.
A visibly disappointed Ataguba said after the last raid, MTN was expected to comply with the deadline handed down by the agency, especially when there was mutual agreement to that effect before the law enforcement agents vacated the premises early this month.
According to him, MTN has not only reneged on the agreement, but has shown in clear terms that it was not bothered about the concerns of Nigerian consumers in whose interest the CPC was acting.
�MTN came forward to say that within one week, they would have complied, but this is three weeks after they have not complied.”
ThisDay