Ekiti seals off MTN , Etisalat offices for

Ekiti State Government has sealed of outlets off two mobile telecommunication companies, MTN Nigeria Limited and Etisalat, in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly

owing N50 million signage and advertisement bills.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Information, the affected outlets of the GSM companies include their main offices at Fajuyi Park and Okesa, while two other outlets of MTN at Lyin road and Adebayo area of the state capital were also sealed off.

Justifying the action, the Special Adviser to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Internally Generated Revenue, Mr. Ropo Ogunbiyi, said his agency had legal backing.

He stated that the affected companies were formally notified about their huge debt to the state government since 2006, but could not get any positive response from them.

He lamented that it was unfortunate that telecommunication companies of such caliber that had made so much fortunes from members of the public could find it difficult to pay their signage fees, adding that after a long period of waiting and entreaties, the board had no option left than to seal off the Companies.

With the dwindling federal allocations, the revenue boss explained that there was need for the state government to look inwards and generate more money internally so as to have enough funds to execute the numerous people-oriented projects of the State Government.

He urged the private sector to assist the government through prompt payment of their taxes and rates.