Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Veteran television personality Frank Edoho has finally set the record straight on the mysterious disappearance of Nigeria's most iconic game show, 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,' revealing that a punitive fine imposed by the Federal Government on its longtime sponsor forced the programme off air, contrary to widespread reports that he was sacked as host. Speaking on an episode of The KK Show published on Sunday, August 2, 2026, Edoho disclosed that the show's primary corporate sponsor, which had backed the programme for a decade, withdrew its support after being hit with a substantial regulatory penalty that created an "incredible sum of money" to be paid back to the government.
Edoho, who hosted the Nigerian edition of the globally syndicated quiz show from its premiere on October 8, 2004, until its temporary shutdown on June 25, 2017, explained that the financial burden of the fine left the company with no choice but to end its involvement with the programme. "So Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? sort of came to an end when our sponsor withdrew. I don't know if I can mention brand names here, but our sponsor stayed with us for a decade sponsoring the show," he said. The sponsor in question was MTN Nigeria, the telecommunications giant that had invested an estimated ₦3.5 billion into prize money, production expenses, and overall sponsorship throughout the partnership. "I think the Federal Government fined them based on some industry… I think it was just like a punitive measure for one corporate thing that happened. I can't go into details, but that affected the sponsorship of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? So they said, 'Hey guys, we can't do this anymore based on the fact that we have to pay an incredible sum of money back to the Federal Government,'" Edoho recounted.
The revelation puts to rest years of speculation that Edoho was dropped from the show amid personal controversies. The television host, who had spent 13 years as the face of the programme, recalled that when new sponsors expressed interest in reviving the show, he entered negotiations to become an executive producer and acquire a stake, believing his years of service had made him an asset to the franchise. However, disagreements during the negotiations led to his absence when the show eventually returned in 2022 under new sponsors and a revamped prize package. His absence sparked media reports that he had been sacked, a claim he has now firmly dismissed. "We were having differences in negotiation. I think it was one newspaper that went and said that I was dropped based on the fact that, with the relaunch of the show under the new sponsor, I wasn't anywhere to be found. And of course, they would draw conclusions based on that," he explained. "So they announced that I was dropped from the show, which was false then. I gave my statement. I said, 'Okay, you know what? This is it.' I felt I was thrown under the bus after all the years I put in."
Reflecting on his career, Edoho noted that he had worked for four years at Radio Nigeria before television fame catapulted him to national recognition. "You know, once you can work on radio for four years but not get as much popularity or fame as you would if you worked on TV for one month," he said. Edoho eventually returned to host the show when it resumed in 2022 after a five-year hiatus, but his latest comments provide fresh insight into the circumstances that led to the programme's suspension and his temporary exit, clarifying a long-standing narrative that he says was inaccurately portrayed in media reports. The regulatory penalties that forced MTN to withdraw from the show, he maintained, were the real reason behind the show's temporary disappearance from Nigerian screens, not his departure.
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