G17 PRESS CONFERENCE ON OPERATION SWEEP MTN OUT OF PLATEAU It has become necessary that as youths of plateau state

we stand by issues that define our common unity and shapes our future As youths, we have over the years promoted peaceful co-existence to create a friendly environment for visitors and the business community to come to into the plateau and contribute its quota to nation building. Under such friendly and peaceful environment, MTN saw it worthy to operate its call center in Plateau state being its highest business profit making environment in the north. MTN situated its operational office at one of the safest locations in jos along Rayfield road opposite the Air Force base and employed over 1700 citizens of Plateau from different ethnic groups and religions. Since, its business in plateau state has enjoyed high level of patronage from plateau citizens as they smile to the bank everyday while our hard working youths go home with a token at the end of the month exhausted from the hard labor they put into MTN. As if that was not enough, MTN backstabbed the plateau people by removing the call center, rendering over 1700 youths jobless on the pretense of insecurity is blackmail on the plateau people and a mere sabotage to discourage investors from the state. As a so-called reputable communications company it claims to be, if we may ask MTN, what social responsibility has it ever executed in plateau state in terms of education, health or even relief materials to crises (prone) areas? Or even a donation of a whistle to the security agencies in plateau state to (help) address the security challenge it claims there is of which they have never experienced any. After a careful review of recent developments and actions by MTN, G17 has resolved as follows: 1. We condemn in totality the decision by MTN to shut down its call center in jos 2. We are in 100% solidarity with the 1700 youths whom were working at the then call center 3. We support the state government s decision to stop patronage of MTN in the state

4. We will serve as volunteer marketers to other GSM service providers by ensuring that all plateau citizens have alternative lines and no longer patronize MTN as long as it stands on removing its call center 5. We will take this campaign against under-payment by MTN to other call centers nation wide 6. We call on other companies on the plateau to treat plateau youths with fairness It doesnt matter how this struggle for peace, justice and equality for youths on the plateau will last, if MTN does not retract its blackmail on the people of plateau, we will ensure that MTN doesnt sell a single #100 recharge card in jos and it will lose its customer base on the plateau day by day

Dachung Musa Bagos (for G17)