ABUJA, MTN, the South African international telecommunication services provider, has made a payment of 30 billion Naira (about 98 million US dollars) to the Nigerian government in part settlement of a 330-billion Naira fine imposed on the telecommunications group’s Nigerian subsidiary for not disconnecting users of its services with unregistered SIM cards.

MTN, , which is the biggest telco in Africa, had earlier paid a first installment of 80 billion Naira on the total fine, which is payable over six installment over a period of three years.

MTN Nigeria was originally fined 5.2 billion USD for failing to de-activate more than five million unregistered SIM cards, but the amount was reduced under a settlement which will see MTN list its local subsidiary on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Nigeria, like many other countries, has banned the use of unregistered SIM cards for fear that they may be used by criminals.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK