MTN explains reasons for closing offices nationwide

MTN Nigeria confirmed yesterday that it has closed its offices across the country to protect its employees from further harm following incidents on Monday.

The company is currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by protesters who physically destroyed some of its facilities. An insider at MTN stated, “We decided to close offices nationwide to ensure the safety of our workers. They have already experienced significant distress, and we wanted to prevent any additional harm.

This closure will not impact our services, which will continue to operate smoothly in the background. However, I cannot specify when we will reopen, as it will depend on the nature and duration of the ongoing protests.” There have been claims that the protests were initiated at MTN offices, and if this occurs while our employees are present, they could face further risks.

Yesterday, the telecom company announced the closure of its offices and service centres across the country, urging customers to utilize its digital channels for support. Using its Customer Care account on X, the company communicated the closure, stating: “Please be informed that our shops nationwide will be closed today, July 30th.

We are available 24/7 to support you via our digital channels.

The decision to close came after numerous frustrated customers stormed MTN offices in various locations, vandalizing properties in response to the mass barring of subscribers’ lines, which was implemented to comply with the NCC’s directive. This directive mandated that any phone line not properly linked to a National Identity Number be barred by July 30th.

Eyewitnesses reported that angry customers damaged property and removed gates at the MTN service centre on 23 Road, Festac Town. In Oshogbo, Osun State, hundreds protested against the telecoms for disconnecting their lines, just hours before the demonstration began.

The protesters marched to the offices of different telecom operators in the state, specifically targeting the MTN Nigeria headquarters in Dada Estate. Many protesters claimed to have arrived at the MTN office by 6:00 AM to have their barred SIM cards unblocked, only to find the doors closed. They also blocked the Osogbo-Iwo road, resulting in traffic disruptions and gridlock in the area. The crowd included elderly individuals, women, and civil servants, all visibly upset over being ignored by the office staff.

A resident, Mr. Ismail Ademola, shared that subscribers had lined up since 8 AM but received no assistance after several hours. Another customer, Ifeoluwa Dayo, expressed frustration, stating, “I left my children at home since 7 AM in Ikirun, only to be told to come back another day during this time of high transportation costs.” At the Maitama shop in Abuja, angry customers were seen banging on the gates and threatening that the nationwide protests would begin from MTN’s premises. Security personnel, including DSS officials, were eventually called in to diffuse the escalating tension.

The unrest in Festac, Oshogbo, and Abuja represented just a few instances among many across major cities, including Obalende, Victoria Island, Mushin, and Ikeja in Lagos State, as well as Onitsha in Anambra State, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, and Warri in Delta State. Viral videos on social media showcased protesters expressing their frustration over the abrupt disconnections, emphasizing the disruption caused by the mass barring and the demand for a resolution.

In response, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed all operators to promptly reactivate any lines that had been disconnected over the weekend, given the limited time for consumers to link their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. This action by the NCC aimed to prevent further damage to the operators. However, before this intervention, MTN had already incurred significant losses.

An MTN source informed Vanguard that while the company was disappointed, it was not surprised by the backlash, recognizing it as a consequence faced by a leading operator with a dominant market share. As of March this year, MTN held the market lead with 81.7 million active subscriptions, whereas its closest competitor, Airtel, had 63.3 million subscriptions.The post MTN explains reasons for closing offices nationwide appeared first on Radarr Africa.