Soji Maurice-Diya, who joined the company in 2018, initially helped in driving growth and innovation as the Commercial Director and later as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Since joining ATC Nigeria, Maurice-Diya has led the Sales and Innovation team, contributing to the company’s commercial success. 

As COO from August 2022, he managed the company’s operations, focusing on bringing together efficiencies following commendable growth. 

He also laid the operational foundation for expanding ATC Nigeria’s platform, ensuring resilience and expansion.

Maurice-Diya succeeds Errol Ambler-Smith, whose six-year tenure as CEO was with strong leadership and focus on ATC Nigeria. 

Appreciating Ambler-Smith’s contributions, the colony wrote, “We would like to thank Errol Ambler-Smith for his incredible leadership in Nigeria and great dedication over the past 6 years.”

Maurice-Diya’s experience spans various sectors, including technology, media, real estate, and telecommunications. Before joining ATC Nigeria, he was the Principal at Maudi Capital and Investment, focusing on strategic investments. 

He also served as a Commercial Advisor at ExxonMobil, where he enhanced commercial opportunities through economic analysis and development.

His earlier roles include leading Strategy and Business Development at Etisalat Nigeria, where he was responsible for sales and distribution strategy, roaming, and carrier negotiations. At IBM, he served as a Global Market Development Advisor in New York, leading reviews with senior management.

Maurice-Diya holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from the Yale School of Management and has completed the Advanced Leadership Development Program at INSEAD. He is involved in volunteering as a board member of the Alumni Advisory Board at the Yale School of Management.

In his new role as CEO, Maurice-Diya is expected to ensure a new dimension of growth and innovation for ATC Nigeria, building on the foundation established previously.

The company explained thus:

“On November 21, 2023, HEDA Resource Centre in Nigeria, without putting the parties on notice and in their absence, obtained an interim order from the Federal High Court in Lagos preventing ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited (ATC Nigeria) and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria) from constructing or operating base transceiver stations “within close proximity” to such stations owned by IHS Towers Nigeria Limited.

“Thereafter, HEDA filed a contempt of court case against ATC Nigeria’s CEO, Errol Ambler-Smith, seeking his arrest.

“On March 8, 2024, the Federal High Court vacated its earlier interim order on the basis that HEDA Resource Centre had concealed the critical fact that none of the planned base transceiver stations violated the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) regulations on distance between tower infrastructures”.

ATC Nigeria said that given this ruling, “there are no subsisting orders of injunction preventing ATC Nigeria or MTN Nigeria and ATC Nigeria from constructing base transceiver stations for MTN Nigeria. At the same hearing, the Federal High Court struck out the contempt of court claims against ATC Nigeria’s CEO, Errol Ambler-Smith”.

ATC Nigeria owns, operates, and develops wireless communications sites outdoors, indoors, and in urban and rural locations across Nigeria.

Established in 2015, with a current portfolio of over 8,000 tower sites and investments of over USD 2.1 billion to date, the company’s innovative solutions are the connectivity backbone for 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and a limitless mobile future.

ATC Nigeria is a subsidiary of America Tower Corporation (ATC), a NYSE listed company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. ATC is a global leader of wireless communications infrastructure with a presence in twenty-five (25) countries on six continents and with over 6,400 employees worldwide.

In a Form 48 sighted by our correspondent in the registry of the Federal High Court on Monday 5th February, 2024, HEDA issued a notice of consequences of disobedience of court orders against ATC Nigeria.

Named in the said Form 48 is the Managing Director of ATC Nigeria against whom the warning seems to be directed.

It would be recalled that HEDA had in a public interest Suit marked FHC/L/CS/2359/2023 sued the Federal Ministry of Environment, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Ltd (ATC Nigeria) and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria) to stop MTN and ATC from siting new base stations where there are already existing ones in close proximity owing to health and environmental concerns.

Justice Yellim Bogoro, had on 21st November 2023 issued an ex parte order of injunction against ATC Nigeria, MTN Nigeria and other defendants to restrain themselves from taking any step towards establishing new masts in close proximity to existing ones.

The court upheld the prayers of the plaintiff/applicant, (HEDA Resource) and ordered the fourth and fifth defendants, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Ltd and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc respectively, together with their “servants, agents, privies and/or assigns from commencing, continuing or completing the construction or installation of any base trans-receiver stations/towers/masts (BTS) within close proximity to IHS’ existing BTS or operating any BTS within close proximity to IHS’ existing BTS pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

The order effectively put on hold the implementation of the 2,500 towers project from IHS to ATC announced by MTN on or around 10th November 2023. The order of injunction was reaffirmed by the court on 7th December 2023.

Filling of the contempt proceedings, may not be unconnected with alleged violation of the order of Justice Yellim Bogoro, made on 21st November 2023.

The matter is coming up on the 14th of February, 2024 for hearing of the application.