MTN Nigeria plans to invest N640 billion (about US$1.5 billion) over the next three years to expand broadband access across the continent’s most populous country, in line with the Federal Government’s 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan and in support of MTN Group’s strategy, Ambition 2025: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.
“Nigeria is one of our most important markets. We have a proud history of partnering with Nigeria and Nigerians to drive faster and more inclusive growth through digital transformation,” said MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, after a three-day visit to Abuja and Lagos, in which he met a number of key stakeholders.
These included President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami; Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, as well as Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The MTN Group President – who was accompanied by MTN Group Chief Financial Officer, Tsholo Molefe; MTN Nigeria Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe, and MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola – reiterated MTN’s support for Nigeria’s plans to secure 90% broadband population coverage by 2025. This aligns with MTN Group’s belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life and the work to extend digital and financial inclusion across Africa.
The delegation welcomed Nigeria’s plans to auction 500MHz of 5G spectrum: five blocks of 100MHz in the 3500MHz band, which Mupita said would facilitate accelerated broadband access.
He said MTN Group’s plans to sell down 14% of MTN Nigeria to Nigerian investors were well advanced and this would happen as soon as conditions were conducive. MTN Nigeria, in which MTN Group has a 78.8% stake, sought to have the largest retail shareholder base on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, where it has a market capitalisation of N3.4 trillion (US$8.2 billion).
“To mark the 20th anniversary of MTN’s operations in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria plans to build a new flagship headquarters in Lagos,” Mupita concluded.
