Telecom Services In Kogi Set To Resume As MTN, State Government Resolve Dispute

Lokoja, April 30, 2025 — Telecommunications services disrupted in Kogi State are expected to return to normal by Wednesday, following the resolution of a prolonged dispute between MTN Nigeria and the Kogi State Government.

The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that the disagreement which led to the shutdown of telecom masts—primarily affecting MTN—had been addressed.

“We have resolved the issues. Services will be fully restored on Wednesday,” Adebayo told PUNCH Online.

The shutdown, which lasted over a week, stemmed from a compliance dispute involving MTN and the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency (KUIMCA). The agency accused MTN of under-declaring the scope of its fibre optic network across the state and violating operational regulations.

KUIMCA Director General, Taofeeq Isah, said a four-day joint verification exercise exposed inconsistencies in MTN’s reporting. While MTN had initially declared the presence of 48 optic fibre lines, officials discovered significantly wider network coverage.

“I found non-compliance in their files,” Isah said. “They complained of overbilling based on their coverage claim, so we conducted a joint verification. It turned out they were operating in more areas than they declared.”

Kogi State subsequently demanded additional levies based on the revised network footprint. MTN’s refusal to meet the financial demands led to a court-ordered facility shutdown, resulting in widespread service disruption that affected both private users and businesses.

Further complicating the situation were allegations from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, accusing MTN of tax evasion and submitting irrelevant documentation during compliance inspections.

The disruption sparked frustration among residents and businesses in the state, many of whom depend heavily on mobile connectivity for communication and commercial activity.

With the resolution now reached, ALTON has assured subscribers that full network service will resume on Wednesday, easing communication challenges across the state.