HARARE: The boss of Africa’s biggest mobile company, MTN, has resigned after the firm received a $5.2bn fine from Nigeria. CEO Sifiso Dabengwa tendered his resignation with immediate effect, saying it was “in the interest of the company and its shareholders”.
The fine, which amounts to double MTN’s profit last year, was for failing to cut off unregistered mobile users. The firm was given until 16 November, just two weeks, to pay the penalty.
The company is in talks to reduce the fine. “Due to the most unfortunate prevailing circumstances occurring at MTN Nigeria, I, in the interest of the company and its shareholders, have tendered my resignation with immediate effect,” said Dabengwa in a statement.
Non-executive chairman Phuthuma Nhleko has been appointed executive chairman for a maximum of six months while the company looks for a successor.It is thought that the Nigerian government imposed the fine after the kidnapping of a former finance minister, Chief Olu Falae.
The kidnappers used an unregistered Sim card from MTN to demand a ransom. Nigeria is MTN’s biggest market, with 28.5 million subscribers, followed by Iran and South Africa. The resignation of Dabengwa has not come as a surprise to analysts and market watchers.
His job was on the line ever since the authorities in Nigeria slapped MTN with a $5.2bn fine for failing to cut off mobile phone users who were using unregistered Sim cards.
Dabengwa had been in the top post at MTN for four years, but had served as the company’s chief operating office and as head of its Nigerian operations before that. The ratings agencies Moody’s and Fitch lowered MTN’s credit rating last month because of the Nigeria fine.
