Telecom services in Kogi State are expected to be fully restored by Wednesday following the resolution of a dispute between MTN Nigeria and the state government, according to the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, told PUNCH Online on Tuesday that the issues which led to the shutdown of telecom infrastructure—primarily affecting MTN—had been resolved.
“We have resolved the issues. Services will be fully restored on Wednesday,” Adebayo confirmed.
The disruption stemmed from a compliance dispute between MTN and the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency (KUIMCA), which accused the telecom operator of underreporting the extent of its fibre optic network in the state and breaching operational rules.
KUIMCA Director General Taofeeq Isah said a four-day joint verification revealed MTN’s actual fibre coverage exceeded what had been declared. MTN allegedly disputed the resulting charges, which led to a legal order to shut down its facilities.
Kogi State authorities also accused MTN of tax evasion and submitting incomplete documentation during compliance inspections. The standoff left subscribers and businesses without service for over a week.