MTN deal 'shortchanges' Nigeria

Nigeria's Senate has accused the government of "short-changing" the country by reducing the fine of mobile phone giant MTN from an original $5.2bn (£3.4bn) to $1.7bn, according to Vanguard newspaper reports


The Senate had summoned top government officials, including the communications minister and attorney-general, to explain the "ridiculous settlement payment plan", according to a letter sent by the chairman of the senate's communication committee.

Government officials said the fine had been reduced to protect the jobs of some 500,000 Nigerians working for MTN, and not to deter foreign investors.   

The fine was imposed over MTN's failure to disconnect unregistered Sim cards, a measure aimed at preventing militant Islamists and criminal gangs from going under the radar.

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