SITUATION
Sometime in 2016, MTN Nigeria (MTN) was accused by the Senate of improperly repatriated funds from Nigeria to the tune of $13.9 billion in violation of the Foreign Exchange Act. Consequently, representatives of MTN were summoned by the Senate Committee on Banking Insurance and other Financial Institutions to a public hearing. The issue potentially placed MTN in a position where it was seen as working against the interest of Nigeria and contributing to the economic woes of the country.
TASK
C&F Porter Novelli was retained to design and implement a communications programme to manage the crisis.
APPROACH
The programme ran on various tracks. These included expanding the existing bucket of credible influencers to drive discussion on relevant media platforms focusing on the implications of the actions against a major example of FDI in Nigeria; leading the conversation across relevant media targeted at policy makers on how sustained attacks will affect MTN, and by extension its ecosystem which greatly benefits the economy; and showcasing how MTN/ICT infrastructure supports various critical sectors of the economy from an infrastructural and service perspective. Other aspects were enlisting the support of influential pressure groups to highlight MTN’s contributions to the economy ; and a focused and direct engagement with the government; the legislature in particular with emphasis on the relevant committees.
RESULT
Public opinion shifted in favour of MTN largely as a result of the engagement of the media and the efforts of commentators and influential pressure groups. The Investigation did not lead to an indictment