Business owners and mobile network subscribers in Kogi State have been counting their losses as the government-MTN battle enters its second week.
Other service providers in the state who depend on the MTN facilities are also partly affected, as their services have also become erratic.
Recall that this is the second time MTN and the Kogi State government have disputed payments.
Many businesses are already counting losses, running into millions of naira, and their social activities and relationships are badly affected.
For now, most banks and other businesses can hardly operate, while residents are stranded as they cannot withdraw or pay for services through the PoS channels.
Most PoS operators, another alternative source of employment for Nigerians, have closed businesses, while many businesses now demand cash on purchase or service. Citizens are lamenting the excruciating pains caused by the government—network service providers fiasco.
None of the major actors, the government or the service providers, have come out to speak on the development.
Citizens are, however, confused by the development as there appears to be no solution in sight. Meanwhile, the service providers have said that only their headquarters can speak on the matter.
For Usman Ahmed, “it is unfortunate that this problem lingers. The environment in the state is not encouraging business owners, even as it is expected that the service providers ought to pay their taxes, this must, however, be done with consideration.”
According to Sarah Avila, “The time for the state to define taxes for service providers is now, because what we hear is that the providers are made to pay multiple taxes, which is why they are refusing to comply”.
In another development, citizens are asking service providers to upgrade and improve their services in the state. They point out that they are aware that they make so much profit daily and wonder why they can’t provide effective network service in the state.
According to Basil Ujah, “it is only in the state that the service providers gloss over providing adequate service”, calling on the monitoring agencies to look into the plight of Kogi citizens.
A source at the MTN office, who will not want his name in print, as they are not allowed to speak to the press, said that the current face-off was caused by the government’s decision to increase their tax liabilities, alleging that this is in contradiction to the one that the federal government gazettes.
He said their liability to the government stood at about N100million per annum, as against the N280million the state government demanded.
“This arbitrary increase is contrary to what is in the gazette, so we are trying to resolve the issue with the state government officials.
“You know that our headquarters can speak on the issue. But we hope the problem will be resolved between now and next week,” he said.
All efforts to speak with the director-general of Kogi State Infrastructural and Utility Management Compliance Agency (KIUMCA), Alhaji Taufiq Isa, proved abortive as his MTN lines are switched off.
As it stands, the people of Kogi State will have to wait until next week for the issue to be resolved, with the attendant consequences.
