MTN Nigeria says it remitted 878.7 billion naira (US$586 million) in taxes, levies and statutory payments in its 2025 financial year, as strong earnings and revenue growth boosted its fiscal contributions to government.
The payments, disclosed in the company’s latest Sustainability Report, cover corporate income tax, value-added tax, spectrum fees, import duties, regulatory levies and infrastructure-related tax credit schemes.
The 2025 figure marks a 15 percent increase from the previous year, when the telecom operator paid 764 billion naira (about US$509 million) in taxes and levies. In 2023, contributions stood at 543.9 billion naira (US$363 million), bringing total growth over two years to roughly 62 percent.
MTN Group, the parent company of MTN Nigeria, has benefited from a rebound in profitability after a period of foreign exchange-related losses that had weighed on its Nigerian operations.
For the 2025 financial year, MTN Nigeria reported a profit after tax of 1.11 trillion naira (US$740 million), supported by strong subscriber growth and higher data consumption.
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Revenue rose sharply by 54.8 percent to 5.20 trillion naira (US$3.47 billion), while operating profit increased to 2.08 trillion naira (US$1.39 billion) from 778.2 billion naira in the previous year.
The company said its improved performance reflected both operational efficiency gains and stronger demand for mobile and data services in Africa’s largest telecom market.
Beyond taxes, MTN Nigeria also highlighted its contribution to infrastructure development through tax credit schemes. It committed 202.8 billion naira (US$135 million) to the reconstruction of the 110-kilometre Enugu–Onitsha Expressway under Nigeria’s road infrastructure tax credit programme.
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The operator said it continues to expand its domestic economic footprint, with 62 percent of procurement spending directed to Nigerian suppliers in 2025, up from 59.6 percent the previous year.
MTN Nigeria said the policy supports government efforts to strengthen local content and deepen participation of domestic firms in construction, logistics, software services and power infrastructure.
Operationally, the company expanded its network base to 2,087 active sites nationwide, while its subscriber base reached 85.4 million users by the third quarter of 2025.
Active data users rose to 51.1 million, supported by rising smartphone penetration of 65.1 percent, underscoring Nigeria’s continued shift toward mobile internet usage.
During the year, MTN Nigeria also renewed its 800MHz spectrum licence for another 10 years, extending operating rights through 2034.
Analysts say the strong financial performance highlights the resilience of Nigeria’s telecom sector, which has become one of the most significant non-oil revenue contributors to government finances.
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They add that rising data demand, digital adoption and gradual macroeconomic stabilisation have helped telecom operators offset earlier currency pressures.
The report underscores the growing role of telecom firms not only as service providers, but also as major fiscal contributors and infrastructure partners in emerging economies.
