MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has disclosed that it paid a total of ₦764.2 billion in taxes and levies to the Nigerian government in 2024, marking a significant 40.5% increase from the ₦543.9 billion remitted in 2023. The figures were revealed in the company’s newly published 2024 Sustainability Report, which outlines MTN’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
The report highlights MTN’s efforts to expand its national footprint, with network coverage now reaching 93% of Nigeria’s geographical landscape. It also demonstrates the company’s early adoption of the International Financial Reporting Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1 and S2), well ahead of the mandatory timeline set by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
Speaking on the release of the report, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, said: “From expanding our network footprint to achieve 93% coverage to reducing our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 11% compared to the 2021 baseline, we are making tangible progress.
“We have increased female representation in our workforce to 41.4%, empowered local businesses by directing 59.6% of our spend to local suppliers in the year, contributed N764 billion in taxes and levies to support national development, and invested N3.5 billion in Corporate Social Investment initiatives, positively impacting over 663,300 lives. These efforts reflect our unwavering dedication to long-term value creation and building a more connected, sustainable future.”
According to the report, the telecommunications giant cut its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions from 113,826 tCO₂e in 2021 to 101,300 tCO₂e in 2024, achieving an 11% reduction despite a slight increase compared to the previous year. The company also expanded its renewable energy footprint with the installation of 194 solar-powered rural telephony sites and became the first telecoms provider in West Africa to launch environmentally friendly SIM cards.
Further emphasising MTN’s sustainability goals, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobe Okigbo, noted that the company’s initiatives transcend commercial priorities. He said MTN continues to invest in programmes that foster real social impact, particularly through the MTN Foundation.
Okigbo pointed to the “What Can We Do Together” campaign as a prime example of community engagement. “Since its launch in September 2015, this initiative has transformed lives and contributed to grassroot development across Nigeria,” he said.
In a separate update, MTN Nigeria reported a return to profitability in the first quarter of 2025, reversing a series of losses triggered by the foreign exchange crisis and persistent inflationary pressures. The rebound was largely attributed to a 50% tariff adjustment approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
During the same period, the company increased its capital expenditure, investing ₦202.4 billion in network infrastructure—representing a 159% rise compared to the ₦78.1 billion spent in the corresponding period of 2024.