MTN Nigeria has announced a public inquest scheduled for June 6, 2026, in which the mechanics of mobile data delivery, a subject that has fuelled persistent consumer frustration and regulatory scrutiny, will be subjected to structured, adversarial examination before a live national audience.

The context matters. Nigeria’s mobile internet subscriber base crossed 153.2 million in Q1 2026, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), operating within an ecosystem where data traffic has grown exponentially. Yet subscriber trust has not kept pace with subscriber numbers.

Complaints about data depletion, speed inconsistencies, and opaque billing have remained a stubborn feature of the consumer experience, a gap between what networks advertise and what users believe they receive.

MTN’s response to that credibility deficit is structurally unusual. Rather than the standard combination of press releases and technical explainers, the operator is staging what it describes as a courtroom-style proceeding, with defined prosecution and defence teams, live evidence, and independent verification.

The design of the prosecution side is particularly notable. MTN is not selecting its questioners. Instead, it is partnering with independent media channels to allow Nigerians to vote for a five-member prosecution team drawn from technology creators and consumer advocates, figures the public, not the company, deems credible.

Those selected will be granted autonomous cross-examination rights over MTN’s technical executives, network engineers, and third-party mobile hardware specialists who will form the defence.

To address the obvious risk of a process that looks independent but isn’t, MTN has brought in KPMG to independently verify every diagnostic tool and backend demonstration utility used during the session. That decision is significant.

KPMG’s involvement raises the accountability stakes considerably and narrows the room for the kind of selective data presentation that has previously undermined corporate-led transparency exercises in the sector.

The entire proceeding will be streamed live across television, YouTube, Facebook, X, and TikTok, a distribution footprint that signals MTN is not treating this as an industry event but as a national public conversation.

What makes the initiative analytically interesting is what it reveals about the current state of the telco-consumer relationship in Nigeria.

The very existence of a format this elaborate, prosecution teams, independent auditors, live streaming, suggests that conventional communication has failed to close the trust gap. Operators have explained, demonstrated, and published. Subscribers remain sceptical.

The inquest format is, in essence, an admission that the burden of proof now requires a different standard of evidence.

Whether the June 6 event delivers on that standard will depend on execution. The selection process for the prosecution team, the quality of evidence tabled by both sides, and the degree to which KPMG’s verification role is genuinely independent rather than ceremonial will determine whether this becomes a replicable model for consumer accountability in African telecoms, or a well-produced exercise that changes little.

The venue is yet to be confirmed. The question it is trying to answer, however, has been on the table for years.

And it has just published its 2025 Sustainability Report in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and S2.

It is one of the few African-listed companies to voluntarily adopt the framework ahead of its mandatory implementation timeline.

The report marks MTN Nigeria’s seventh consecutive annual sustainability publication and third straight year as an early adopter of the IFRS sustainability disclosure standards.

Independently assured by Ernst & Young (EY), the report aligns with multiple global and local reporting frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board telecommunications standard, the UN Global Compact Principles, the Nigerian Exchange sustainability guidelines, and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Sustainable Finance Principles.

MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Dr. Karl Toriola, said:

“Strong governance and ethical conduct are foundational to our sustainability strategy. We reinforced compliance through our Conduct Passport Framework and robust internal controls.” 

In May 2025, we became the first telecommunications company in Nigeria to publicly present a sustainability report on the Nigerian Exchange Group platform, an important milestone in our commitment to IFRS S1 and S2- aligned disclosure and accountability.”

The company also secured Carbon Disclosure Project ratings of ‘B-’ for climate change and ‘C’ for water security.

Under the IFRS S2 framework, the telecoms operator disclosed climate-related risks linked to flooding, heat stress, regulatory changes and possible future taxes or charges on carbon emissions, following a climate scenario analysis completed in 2024.

The report also showed that MTN Nigeria now uses a digital reporting format –  XBRL.  This makes its sustainability and governance data easier for investors and ESG rating agencies to access and analyse through automated systems.

They also carried out assessments to understand how sustainability issues affect both its business operations and society at large, while measuring its overall economic, environmental and social impact from 2021 to 2024.

In addition, over one-third of MTN Nigeria’s biggest suppliers (based on spending) have committed to supporting the company’s net-zero emissions goals, although these commitments have not yet gone through an independent audit or verification process.

Airtel and Globacom have already restored similar services. MTN now follows after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) suspended enforcement of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations 2025.

The regulator introduced the policy in 2025 and classified airtime and data lending as consumer credit. This required telecom operators and their partners to obtain licences and meet compliance conditions.

In April 2026, MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile suspended airtime lending services to comply with the directive.

A court order issued on April 15, 2026, followed a case filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which represents value-added service providers. The order triggered further regulatory challenges and expanded the disruption.

By one estimate, the suspension affected about 40 million subscribers across Nigeria. Many of them depend on airtime borrowing for quick communication, small business operations and emergency use. The service sits within a market valued at about ₦400 billion.

MTN had initially taken a careful position. The company told investors it would not restart Xtratime unless the regulations were struck down or it received a clear directive to resume.

That position has now changed, after the FCCPC paused enforcement on May 22, 2026, MTN confirmed it will reinstate the service.

A company insider said: “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has suspended the enforcement of DEON. To that extent, we will reinstate the service,”

Competition also had an impact. Airtel and Globacom moved earlier to restore their own airtime lending platforms once the enforcement pause began, increasing pressure on MTN to follow.

MTN Xtratime lending allows customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on later top-ups. The service generates fees for the company and supports overall network usage.

During an earnings call, MTN Nigeria chief executive Karl Toriola said the impact on usage was short-lived. He said:

“There was a short-term impact on consumption patterns, which lasted only a few days,” MTN Nigeria chief executive officer Karl Toriola said during the earnings call. “However, as time progressed, customers adapted. They either shifted to self-funded usage or found alternative ways to manage short-term needs.”

The company estimates that Xtratime fees contribute about 3% of total revenue. Airtime and data linked to the service account for roughly 20% of overall airtime distribution.

Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s chief corporate services and sustainability officer, also noted earlier concerns around resumption conditions.

He said: “First, we would require either a court ruling that sets aside the regulations empowering the FCCPC to license, which has not happened, or a clear directive instructing us to reinstate the service.”

MTN Nigeria recorded ₦5.2 trillion in revenue in 2025, equal to about $3.77 billion. It expects this to rise to ₦6.24 trillion, or about $4.52 billion, in 2026.

Despite the disruption, MTN maintains that airtime consumption patterns are still stable. The company argues that customers mainly changed how they pay, not how much they use services.

“I note that MTN does not expect Xtratime’s absence to derail performance targets,” an executive said in internal discussions around the update.

In its first quarter 2026 report, MTN said it is still onboarding approved partners and expects full restoration once the process is completed.

The company now treats the service as operationally important but not critical to overall performance.

Driven by a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) following a clean billing audit, the goal is to show users exactly how background app activities, automatic updates, and video streaming drain their balances as data consumption across the country skyrockets.

Operators have already started sending customers daily reports showing how much data they used the previous day.

An official at one of the telecom companies in Nigeria said the data depletion issue has become a major concern across the industry.

“An average subscriber believes their service provider steals their data once their data is exhausted before time or depletes faster than they expected, which is not true.

“Over the years, we have tried to enlighten the subscribers on factors that could lead to their data being depleted fast, which include smartphone functionality, among others.

“And now, we are looking at tools that could show the subscribers not just what they have used, but also how they have used it to further promote transparency,” the source said.

He added that operators are also stepping up public awareness campaigns to help subscribers understand why data may finish faster than expected.

The renewed drive for transparency comes as data usage across Nigeria gets more expensive.

Nigerians consumed more than four billion gigabytes of data in the first quarter of 2026, driven by heavy use of video streaming platforms, social media, fintech services and remote work tools.

That growth has also increased pressure on telecom infrastructure, with networks in many parts of the country now struggling during peak hours, leaving subscribers with slower internet speeds and unstable connections.

Many users often interpret those issues as abnormal data depletion.

Telecom operators are also dealing with worsening infrastructure problems. Industry data showed there were 19,384 fibre cuts in 2025, while another 5,934 incidents were recorded in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

At the same time, only about 25% of planned 4G expansion projects for 2026 have been completed, leaving networks overstretched as internet demand grows.

In December 2024, the NCC said it carried out a billing audit across major mobile networks after repeated complaints from subscribers. According to the regulator, the audit did not uncover any major issue linked to unfair data deductions.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the exercise was completed in the third quarter of 2024 using independent auditors.

“We had a hypothesis that it isn’t true that there is a data depletion issue in the industry. It could be perception.

“So the first thing we did was that we immediately conducted a billing audit on the systems of the major MNOs, using reputable auditors. That exercise was completed in Q3 of this year (2024) and surprisingly, we didn’t find any major issues,” he said.

The NCC has repeatedly warned that several smartphone features and apps consume data without users actively using them. According to the commission, background app activity, cloud syncing, automatic updates and location services are some of the biggest causes of unexpected data usage.

The regulator advised subscribers to monitor their usage regularly, turn off background data access for selected apps and disable automatic updates where necessary.

It also recommended using Wi-Fi whenever possible and installing ad blockers to reduce unwanted data consumption from online advertisements.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is reviewing its 26-year-old telecom policy as the government looks to address growing pressure on the sector.

Proposed reforms include stronger consumer protection rules, new tariff structures, wider 5G deployment and tougher measures to protect telecom infrastructure from vandalism and fibre cuts.

Authorities say the reforms are aimed at improving digital access, strengthening cybersecurity and encouraging long-term investment in the country’s telecom industry, ultimately reducing data depletion across Nigeria.

Industry stakeholders say high financing thresholds, currency volatility, fragmented regulations, and inefficient cross-border payment systems continue to constrain the growth of exporters and businesses on the continent.

They made the suggestions in Lagos, recently, during the 6th Africa Finance Festival 2026 gala. Hosted by InstinctWave and CFO Magazine, the event focused on digital finance, trade growth, innovation, and Africa’s economic future.

Held at the LagosOriental Hotel, the evening featured networking sessions, executive engagement, and award presentations recognising individuals and organisations shaping business growth across the continent.

Akin Naphtal, group CEO of InstinctWave, described the festival as a leading platform for finance leadership and economic dialogue in Africa.

“Over the course of the festival, we have had the privilege of hearing from outstanding keynote speakers, panelists, regulators, investors, and finance executives,” he said.

He added,

“Tonight, however, we gather for a different but equally important purpose: to celebrate excellence.”

He noted that the awards were created to honor institutions and professionals driving innovation, discipline, and impact across Africa’s finance sector.

Bernice Awube Armah-Ampofo, director of Finance at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, highlighted barriers facing exporters and SMEs across Africa.

“Accessing trade finance is cumbersome, and the thresholds are quite high for SMEs,” she remarked, citing high capital costs, currency volatility, fragmented regulations, and weak cross-border payment systems as key challenges.

She urged stakeholders to leverage the fintech ecosystem to close gaps in trade finance and payments through stronger regional collaboration.

The event also reflected the growing role of digital payments in Africa’s financial system. GSMA data shows mobile money transactions reached over $2.3 trillion globally in 2025, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for about two-thirds of total value, driven by rapid adoption across markets.

The figures underline how mobile platforms continue to expand access to financial services and support discussions on cross-border trade and financial inclusion raised during the event.

Beyond the formal speeches, the event also created room for business networking and collaboration among attendees.

Guests participated in interactive networking sessions designed to encourage new industry connections before the award presentations later in the evening.

Sponsors including MTN Nigeria, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, and other participating organisations maintained strong visibility throughout the gala.

Closing the event, Naphtal said, “Our vision remains bold, to continue to build the Africa Finance Festival into one of Africa’s most influential platforms for finance leadership, policy dialogue, innovation, and economic transformation.”

The programme, implemented in partnership with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, continues to serve as a platform for equipping journalists, broadcasters, and digital content creators with the skills, exposure, and mentorship required to thrive in today’s evolving media ecosystem.

This year’s fellows were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants across print, broadcast, digital media, and content creation, reflecting the programme’s growing reputation and influence within the industry.

In commemoration of the techo’s 25th anniversary, the cohort has been expanded from 20 fellows in previous editions to 25 for the year.

Speaking on the first day of the programme, Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, described the initiative as a reflection of the company’s commitment to innovation, partnership, and continuous learning.

“At MTN Nigeria, innovation, insight, knowledge, skills, and partnership matter deeply to us. The Media Innovation Programme represents all these values – a partnership not just with Pan-Atlantic University, but with every fellow.

“This programme is an adventure in learning, one that challenges participants to reconsider assumptions, revise opinions, rethink ideas, and ultimately grow both professionally and personally,” he said.

Also speaking during the session, Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, encouraged the fellows to recognise the programme as more than a professional milestone, describing it as a transformative experience designed to prepare them to make meaningful contributions to the media industry and society at large.

“The media space today faces significant challenges, and this programme equips participants not just for personal development, but to make a real difference. Beyond skills and exposure, we place strong emphasis on values such as truth, honesty, ethics, and responsibility to society. We hope that every fellow leaves this programme better prepared to contribute significantly to the future of media,” he said.

The selected fellows for the fifth cohort include:

1. Agbetiloye David Adekunle (Senior Reporter, Business Insider Africa)
2. Adeniyi Fatima Adetoke (Content Writer, NotJustOk)
3. Adetola Kayode (State House Correspondent/ News Anchor, Lagos Television)
4. Ajibola Tolulope (Presenter, Silverbird Television)
5. Aliyu Usman (Assistant Chief Correspondent/ Editor, News Agency of Nigeria)
6. Augoye Jayne (Arts, Entertainment and Culture Editor, Premium Times)
7. Auwal Muhammad Ibrahim (Senior Editor, Halal Reporters)
8. Collins Christopher (Programmes Producer, News Central Television)
9. Dan-Ikpoyi Veronica (Senior Anchor, TVC Communications)
10. Dike Chiamaka Patricia (Broadcast Journalist, BBC News)
11. Eluemunoh David (Digital Content Creator)
12. Eseimokumoh Denise Loliaba (Editor-in-Chief, Marie Claire Nigeria)
13. Fosudo Oluwafisayo (Digital Content Creator)
14. Godfrey Progress (Reporter, Vanguard Media Limited)
15. Itiafe Glory Ugonma (Broadcast Journalist, Diamond 88.5 FM)
16. Kasali Segun (ICT Correspondent, Nigerian Tribune);
17. Ofonedu Sarah (On-Air Personality, Inspiration FM)
18. Okamgba Justice (Reporter, The Punch)
19. Onwuka Emmanuel (Presenter & Executive Producer, Nigeria Info FM)
20. Oyesanmi Ifeduyi (Managing Editor, TechCabal)
21. Sabastine Emmanuel (Sports Commentator, Team 33 Production)
22. Taiwo Kafilat (Data Journalist, Media Trust Group)
23. Thomas-Odia Ijeoma (Editor, The Guardian Woman, The Guardian)
24. Ugwu Amarachukwu Deborah (On-Air Personality, Rhythm 93.7 FM PH) and
25. Ukachukwu Nneka (Editor/Producer, Voice of Nigeria).

Over the years, the MTN Media Innovation Programme has grown into a leading media fellowship in Nigeria, providing participants with access to industry experts, structured mentorship, hands-on learning experiences, and global best practices in media and communication.

The six-month programme commenced on Monday, May 18, 2026. During this period, the fellows will receive intensive education focused on media innovation, digital transformation, strategic communication, storytelling, and leadership development both in Nigeria and during their one-week study visit to South Africa.

MTN reiterates its commitment to supporting journalism and advancing media excellence in Nigeria, while empowering professionals who continue to shape important conversations across the continent.

The first phase of the exercise, which commenced at Toyin Street, Ikeja, and adjoining streets, revealed widespread cases of improperly deployed over-the-air fibre cables, with several cables found dangerously hanging on gates, utility poles, gutters, and bare floors.

Some of the exposed cables were observed to be live and hanging dangerously close to the ground, posing risks to public safety, environmental aesthetics, and telecom service quality.

Speaking during the exercise, Mr. Tunji Jimoh, Zonal Controller of the NCC Lagos Zonal Office, said the initiative forms part of nationwide efforts to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure and improve quality of service delivery.

Represented by Mr. Deji Roberts, Assistant Director at NCC, Jimoh expressed concern over the poor manner in which some telecom infrastructure had been deployed across parts of Lagos.

“The Commission is concerned about the manner these telecom infrastructures are deployed. Neglecting them exposes critical infrastructure to damage and can negatively impact quality of service delivery to subscribers,” he said.

He noted that the exercise is a national initiative currently piloted in Lagos State and commended LASIMRA for its collaboration and support toward sanitising the environment and ensuring proper infrastructure redeployment.

Jimoh also assured residents and subscribers that the cleanup and redeployment process would not disrupt telecom services within the affected areas.

Also speaking, Mr. Akinbiyi Akindipe, Head of Monitoring and Enforcement at LASIMRA, described the exercise as evidence of the Agency’s commitment to maintaining a “human-face” regulatory approach while ensuring compliance with infrastructure standards.

According to him, allowing telecom infrastructure to remain improperly deployed would continue to affect network service quality, public safety, and the urban environment.

“Lagos State under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu places high priority on the protection of critical national infrastructure. However, improper deployment of such infrastructure must be addressed,” he said.

Akindipe added that LASIMRA was giving operators, through ATCON, the opportunity to urgently correct identified infractions before enforcement actions become necessary.

He stressed that the Agency was not in a hurry to impose sanctions but insisted that operators must take immediate responsibility for redeploying infrastructure according to approved standards.

On his part, Mr. Segun Okuneye, chairman of the ATCON Clean-up Committee, said the exercise demonstrates the telecommunications industry’s commitment to supporting environmental sustainability and improving the aesthetics of Lagos State.

“The telecommunications industry remains committed to supporting initiatives that create a cleaner, safer, and more organised environment for residents and businesses across Lagos State,” he said.

Okuneye disclosed that ATCON would convene an urgent industry-wide stakeholders’ meeting to develop a comprehensive roadmap for correcting legacy infrastructure deployment issues and preventing future occurrences.

He further urged Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and telecom operators to strictly comply with laid-down infrastructure deployment procedures and assured regulators of ATCON members’ readiness to collaborate fully with NCC and LASIMRA throughout the exercise.

The cleanup exercise attracted participation from several telecom infrastructure and service providers, including Galaxy Backbone Limited, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, FibreOne, TNL, ipNX, IHS Nigeria, OneData, African Data Centres, and other industry players.

The initiative is expected to continue across different parts of Lagos State as regulators and industry stakeholders intensify efforts to improve infrastructure standards, public safety, environmental orderliness, and telecom service reliability.

]]> https://techeconomy.ng/exclusive-ncc-lasimra-atcon-begin-telecom-infrastructure-cleanup-exercise-in-lagos/feed/ 0 https://techeconomy.ng/fg-threatens-more-sanctions-on-telcos-over-poor-quality-of-service/ https://techeconomy.ng/fg-threatens-more-sanctions-on-telcos-over-poor-quality-of-service/#respond Mon, 11 May 2026 04:54:51 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=181366 The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has declared that the conditions necessary for improved telecom service delivery in Nigeria have now been established, placing renewed responsibility on network operators to significantly improve quality of service across the country or face sanctions, Techeconomy can report.

Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, stated these in his LinkedIn post on ‘telecom service quality’, in which the Federal Government acknowledged that Nigeria’s connectivity challenges were largely structural, driven by years of underinvestment in digital infrastructure and operational constraints affecting telecom operators.

Recall that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in March 2026, directed mobile network operators to compensate subscribers who experience poor network quality, marking a major shift towards consumer protection in the country’s telecommunications sector.

The Commission stated that subscribers should not bear the burden of service failures where operators fall short of prescribed Quality of Service (QoS) standards.

Under the new directive, telecom operators will be required to provide compensation directly to affected users for breaches of key performance indicators (KPIs).

Now, the Minister even said the government is tackling challenges faced by operators through both long-term infrastructure investments and immediate sector stabilisation reforms.

Tijani reiterated that the government has secured funding led by the World Bank and established a special purpose vehicle under Project BRIDGE to deliver nationwide open-access fibre infrastructure.

He also revealed that fibre deployment, alongside new telecom tower rollouts under the Nigerian Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP), would commence before the end of the year, while satellite capabilities are also being expanded.

“These investments will address the foundational gaps in our digital infrastructure over the next two to five years and permanently transform connectivity across Nigeria,” the statement noted.

The Minister explained that the government’s target is to ensure that small businesses and households can access reliable high-speed fibre internet services instead of depending solely on unstable mobile connections and dongles.

On sector reforms, the government said it had taken difficult decisions aimed at restoring sustainability in the telecommunications industry.

These include tariff adjustments, recognition of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, tax harmonisation efforts, and broader macroeconomic reforms.

According to the statement, telecom operators are now operating in a more stable, transparent, and market-driven environment, with many returning to profitability.

Tijani stressed that operators including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 now have both the capacity and resources to resolve persistent network issues and improve customer experience.

The Minister also reaffirmed the regulatory independence of the Nigerian Communications Commission, stating that the Commission has been fully empowered to monitor network performance, enforce service standards, and ensure compliance across the telecom industry.

He said the government would continue to rely on periodic reports from the NCC as well as feedback from Nigerians, including complaints shared across public platforms, to assess operators’ performance.

“Going forward, we expect to see clear and measurable improvements in call quality, data performance, and coverage,” the Minister stated.

He added that operators delivering quality service would be recognised, while those failing to meet expectations should expect regulatory sanctions from the Commission.

The statement comes amid growing consumer frustration over poor network quality, dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and inconsistent data services despite recent increases in telecom tariffs.

In a regulatory filing released on April 7, MTN Group confirmed that several senior leaders received ordinary shares under its Performance Share Plan.

The awards were made on March 31, 2026 and come with conditions that tie them to future results.

The biggest allocation went to group chief executive Ralph Mupita, who received 207,633 shares valued at about $2.4 million. The shares will only vest after three years, provided performance targets are met.

Other senior executives also received large grants. Group finance chief Tsholofelo Molefe was awarded 111,931 shares, while Ebenezer Asante received 120,880 shares.

In Nigeria, Karl Toriola was allocated 28,704 shares, worth around $335,000 at the time of the award.

The shares were priced at $11.77 (R192.50) each. Like others in the scheme, they will only become accessible after a three-year period.

MTN said all the share awards were granted off-market and carry direct beneficial interest for the recipients. The vesting date has been set for December 2028.

The filing also shows that executives in key markets receive more than one layer of incentives. In addition to group-level shares, both Toriola and Modupe Kadri are entitled to long-term incentives linked to MTN Nigeria itself.

Across the group, directors and senior officers in South Africa and Ghana were also included in the latest round of awards. These include executives overseeing major subsidiaries and company secretaries, all under the same plan structure.

MTN’s share plan has been in place since 2010. It is designed to reward senior staff while keeping them focused on long-term performance.

The company requires recipients to meet set targets before the shares fully vest, and some may be forfeited if those targets are not achieved.

The company said service revenue rose nearly 25% to R218 billion ($13 billion) for the year ended December 31, 2025. Management linked the growth largely to strong performance in its key West African markets, especially MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana.

The result statement also confirmed that 2025 was the final year of the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which focused on expanding data services and digital financial platforms across its markets.

Across the group’s 16 operating countries, the total customer base rose to more than 307 million by the end of the year. Out of that figure, about 172 million were active data users, while about 70 million used mobile money services.

MTN said it invested about R38 billion during the year to strengthen its network and digital platforms. The investment expanded coverage and boosted capacity as demand for data continued to grow.

Data traffic on the network increased by 27%. At the same time, average monthly data usage climbed to 12.5GB per user, up from 10.8GB previously.

The group’s financial technology arm also expanded, with mobile money transactions rising by 15% to more than 23 billion transactions during the year. The total value of those payments exceeded 500 billion dollars.

Profitability also improved significantly, as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation reached R98.5 billion, representing growth of more than one-third in constant currency. The company said cost savings of R3.6 billion helped support that result.

The board declared a dividend of 500 cents per share for the year, a 45% increase from the 345 cents paid in 2024. The payout exceeded the company’s earlier guidance of at least 370 cents.

Group Chief Executive Ralph Mupita said the company will introduce a new shareholder remuneration structure aimed at distributing between 40% and 60% of equity-free cash flow.

The plan includes a share buyback programme of up to R6 billion, which the company said will be carried out gradually from 2026.

Nigeria drives earnings growth

MTN Nigeria swung back to profit after tax of ₦1.1 trillion in 2025, recovering from a ₦400.4 billion loss the previous year when currency depreciation triggered heavy foreign exchange losses, affecting revenue.

In the final quarter of the year alone, pre-tax profit rose to ₦569.6 billion. That was a 248.8% increase compared with ₦163.3 billion recorded in the same period in 2024.

At the group level, the Nigerian subsidiary also overtook MTN South Africa as the largest profit contributor.

Operating earnings in Nigeria more than doubled to about 1.93 billion dollars, far ahead of South Africa’s roughly 1.05 billion dollars. MTN Ghana also posted strong revenue growth, with operating earnings rising to about 1.28 billion dollars.

Together, the expansion in Nigeria and Ghana pushed West Africa to the centre of the company’s profit structure.

Growth supported by scale

Nigeria’s performance shows the size of the country’s telecom market and the growing demand for data and digital payments.

With a population of more than 200 million people and high smartphone use, the market generates large volumes of traffic and digital transactions.

However, the Nigerian operation is very expensive to run. Telecom towers rely heavily on diesel generators because electricity supply is unreliable, and additional security is required for many base stations.

As a result, network operating costs in Nigeria are significantly higher than in South Africa.

Even so, the scale of the market has allowed profits to expand faster than operating costs. Direct network costs rose only slightly during the year, while earnings more than doubled.

Investor confidence returns

Shares of MTN Group have increased nearly 80% over the past year, pushing the company’s market value to about 381 billion rand, or roughly 23.7 billion dollars.

With Nigeria now accounting for a growing share of profits, the country is expected to support the group’s future investment decisions, particularly in network expansion, data services and mobile financial technology.