MTN Nigeria Pays N878.7bn in Taxes as Revenue Surges

MTN Nigeria paid N878.7 billion in taxes, levies, and duties to federal and state authorities in the 2025 financial year, marking a 15 per cent increase from the previous year amid Nigeria’s push to expand non-oil revenue generation.

The disclosure was contained in the company’s recently released 2025 Sustainability Report, which highlighted MTN’s growing contribution to government financing and infrastructure development.

According to the report, the telecom operator paid N543.9 billion in taxes and levies in 2023 before the figure rose to N764 billion in 2024, representing a cumulative increase of about 62 per cent over two years.

The increase followed the company’s recovery from foreign exchange-related losses, as MTN Nigeria recorded a profit after tax of N1.11 trillion in 2025.

The company’s total revenue also climbed by 54.8 per cent to N5.20 trillion, while operating profit rose significantly to N2.08 trillion from N778.2 billion recorded previously.

Taxes, Infrastructure and Local Content

MTN said the N878.7 billion remitted in 2025 covered company income tax, value-added tax, spectrum fees, import duties, Nigerian Communications Commission levies, and contributions under the Rural and Urban Terrestrial Infrastructure tax credit scheme.

The company also participated in the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, committing N202.8 billion toward the reconstruction of the 110-kilometre Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

According to the report, the Rural and Urban Terrestrial Infrastructure initiative reached 50 per cent completion in 2025 after securing approval for an additional N23 billion tax credit aimed at expanding fibre and telecommunications infrastructure in underserved communities.

MTN further disclosed that 62 per cent of its procurement spending in 2025 was directed to Nigerian suppliers, up from 59.6 per cent in the previous year.

The telecom giant said the strategy aligns with the Federal Government’s local-content objectives while supporting industries such as civil construction, logistics, software services, and power infrastructure.

Subscriber Growth and Spectrum Renewal

The report also showed continued growth in MTN Nigeria’s operations and customer base during the year.

The company’s operational footprint expanded to 2,087 active base stations nationwide, while active mobile subscribers reached 85.4 million by the third quarter of 2025.

Active data users rose to 51.1 million, supported by smartphone penetration of 65.1 per cent across its network.

MTN Nigeria also renewed its 800MHz spectrum licence for another 10 years, extending its validity through December 2034.