MTN Remits N879bn Taxes Amid Revenue, Profit Growth

As Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand non-oil revenue and strengthen tax collection under its fiscal reform agenda, corporate tax contributions from major private-sector operators are becoming increasingly important to government financing.

Supporting that drive, MTN Nigeria remitted N878.7bn in taxes, levies and duties to federal and state authorities during the 2025 financial year, representing a 15 per cent increase from the previous year.

According to the company’s 2025 Sustainability Report, MTN paid N543.9bn in taxes and levies in 2023 before the figure rose to N764bn in 2024, reflecting a cumulative increase of about 62 per cent over two years.

The growth followed the company’s recovery from forex-related losses to a profit after tax of N1.11tn in 2025, while total revenue increased by 54.8 per cent to N5.20tn. Operating profit also climbed sharply to N2.08tn from N778.2bn recorded previously.

The N878.7bn paid to government authorities 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.

MTN also participated in the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, committing N202.8bn towards the reconstruction of the 110-kilometre Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

According to the report, the Rural and Urban Terrestrial Infrastructure scheme reached 50 per cent completion in 2025 after securing approval for an additional N23bn tax credit aimed at expanding fibre and telecommunications infrastructure in underserved communities.

The company also increased its local economic footprint, with 62 per cent of procurement spending directed to Nigerian suppliers in 2025, up from 59.6 per cent in the previous year.

MTN stated that the policy supports the Federal Government’s local-content objectives while boosting sectors such as civil construction, logistics, software services and power infrastructure.

Operationally, MTN Nigeria 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.

During the year, the company also renewed its 800MHz spectrum licence for another 10 years, extending validity to December 2034.