By joshua 
MTN Misleads Kogi Government on Fiber Optic Coverage Refuses Reconciliation Efforts
In a recent development that underscores the growing tension between telecommunication giants and Kogi state government regulatory authorities, MTN Nigeria has come under scrutiny for misrepresenting the extent of its infrastructure within Kogi State. The telecom provider initially claimed to possess only 40 kilometers of fiber optic cable laid across the state. However, a detailed verification exercise conducted by engineers from the Kogi State shockingly revealed that MTN has actually deployed 199 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure nearly five times the declared figure.
This the Director General of Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency, (KUIMCA), Dr Taofeeq Isah disclosed while speaking with journalists in Lokoja, attributed the shut down to the failure of the Telecom company to comply fully with rules of operation as stipulated in the official gazette guiding their operation in the state.
He said the revelation came after repeated requests from the Kogi State Government for accurate data in order to reconcile tax assessments, regulatory dues, and right of way charges. In an attempt to amicably resolve the discrepancies, the state extended several invitations to MTN for a reconciliation meeting. Unfortunately, the telecom operator failed to honor these invitations, raising further concerns about its willingness to cooperate with state authorities.