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‘MTN is the only Profit Making Telco’ – NCC

By on July 18, 2012

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, stirred up some controversy yesterday when he disclosed to lawmakers that MTN is the only profit making telecommunications company in the country.

Juwah disclosed this to the Senate Committee on Communications at the commencement of a two-day hearing to investigate the deteriorating quality of service offered Nigerians by service providers.

Juwah said, “Statutorily, they (telcos) present us with their account because they have to pay us some levy based on the accounts. So we see their accounts and see the ones making profit and the ones that are not making profit.”

The lawmakers greeted the revelations with disbelief and reminded the NCC boss that he was under oath and should re-verify the claim he was making.

Chairman of the Committee, Gilbert Nnaji said, ““Executive Vice Chairman, remember that you are under oath and you have to be careful in whatever you are saying, and whatever figure you are giving to us. There is no way we can agree that it is only MTN that is making profit in the telecoms industry in Nigeria, so what you are not sure of, you better say that you are not very sure of it.”

Speaking on the N 1.17 billion fine imposed on the telcos by the NCC, the spokesperson for the regulator, Mr. Reuben Mouka said the sanctions had served to put the operators, “on their toes”.

He said, ““The sanction has now put the operators on their toes on the issue of service delivery. You may not notice it that soon after the sanction, a lot of them are now involved in expansion programmes; the operators now see quality of service as no joke. `This is all aimed at improving the quality of service to the subscribers.”