Buhari blames MTN for over 10,000 Nigerians Killed by Boko haram

Nigerian president Muhammad Buhari, has come out to lame MTN for the Boko haram activities in Nigeria.

You know how it's a general belief that you could never actually win a case against government in Nigeria? I guess this is just a perfect example, with this reason if I were a judge (thankfully I am not a judge) MTN would have lost the whole case. I may even ask them to pay much more....just joking.


But now I guess MTN lawyers have more work to do.

Thisday news reported; Buhari made the remark when he responded to questions from journalists yesterday at a joint press briefing held by Buhari and visiting South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari, however, admitted that MTN’s decision to go to court to challenge the N780 billion fine slammed on it by the industry regulator disarmed the government from intervening in the matter.

He pointed out that what was important to the country was not particularly the fine but the security implications of MTN’s action on the country.

He said: “The concern of the federal government was basically in the area of security and not the fine imposed on MTN. You know how the unregistered SIMs are used by terrorists and between 2009 and today, at least 10,000 Nigerians were killed by Boko Haram, at least 10,000.

“That was why the NCC asked MTN, Glo and the rest of them to register all subscribers. Unfortunately, MTN was very, very slow and contributed to the casualties. And NCC looked at its regulations and imposed the fine.

“(Un)fortunately for MTN, they went to court and once you go to court, you virtually disarm the government because if the federal government refuses to listen to the judiciary, it’s going against its own constitution. Therefore, the government has to wait. But I think MTN has seen that and decided to withdraw the case and go back and negotiate with government agencies on what they consider a very steep fine to be reduced and maybe give time to pay gradually.”

Buhari added that Nigeria has moved to strengthen her relationship with South Africa by identifying agriculture and solid minerals as investment opportunities in Nigeria in order to create jobs and diversify the economy.

In his remarks, Zuma said Nigeria and his country were working together to sort out the controversy over the $9 million cash impounded by the South African authorities from an aircraft belonging to Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

At the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2014, the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration illicitly flew in $9 million to South Africa to procure arms from the black market, but the cash was impounded by the authorities in that country.

Two weeks after the first fiasco, another $6 million, which was wired to a company in South Africa, was also impounded by the country’s authorities. Ever since, Nigeria has not been able to recover the $15 million from South Africa.

The South African president, who is on a two-day state visit to Nigeria, said: “With regard to the things that were either confiscated or went to South Africa, the two governments are working on those matters, the relevant structures are working on it, but there are some that the necessary departments are doing the investigations.

“We will appreciate if we succeed in recovering all other things in South Africa so that they will be returned.”

Commenting on economic activities between Nigeria and South Africa, Zuma said: “We have a commitment to increase our economic activities. We discussed across all areas of the economy to grow the economy faster.

“Part of the reason we agreed to elevate the Bi-national Commission is to monitor on a yearly basis how the economy is doing between the two countries.”

He said Nigeria and South Africa signed over 30 bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) under the Bi-national Commission.

“These agreements cover a wide range of cooperation areas including trade and industry, transport, energy, defence and security and immigration, among others.

“We have directed the relevant ministers to move with speed in implementing all signed agreements.

“We have also directed our ministers to identify joint projects in the key high impact strategic development areas, which will have socio-economic benefits such as employment creation to our peoples,” Zuma explained.

He said South Africa welcomed the increased economic cooperation and trade relations between the two countries over the past decade, referring to Nigeria as South Africa’s key trading partner on the continent.

“Prior to 1999, there were only four South African companies in Nigeria. Since 1999, the situation has changed dramatically.

“Over 120 companies are currently doing business in Nigeria in various sectors, mainly telecommunications, banking, retail, property, entertainment and hospitality. We welcome this significant development.

“We also see great potential in boosting tourism between the two countries. According to Statistics available in South Africa, an average of 4,000 Nigerians travelled to South Africa on a monthly basis in 2015.