After months of economic uncertainty and operational challenges, MTN Nigeria has released a 2024 sustainability report that reveals not just a financial rebound, but a broader commitment to long-term national development.
The telecom giant disclosed it paid N764.2 billion in taxes and levies to the Nigerian government in 2024, a substantial 40.5% increase from the N543.9 billion paid in 2023.
This financial contribution is only one piece of the story.
MTN also confirmed that its mobile network now reaches 93% of Nigeria’s landscape, a significant milestone in digital accessibility.
The company’s CEO, Karl Toriola, noted that MTN was among the early adopters of the International Financial Reporting Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1 and S2), well ahead of the compliance deadline set by Nigeria’s Financial Reporting Council.
“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,” Toriola said.
“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.”
Alongside its tax payments and coverage expansion, MTN also made progress on its environmental targets.
In 2024, the company reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions to 101,300 tCO₂e from a 2021 baseline of 113,826 tCO₂e, an 11% reduction overall and a 2.6% drop year-over-year.
It also deployed 194 new solar-powered rural telephony sites and introduced eco-friendly SIM cards, the first telecom operator in West Africa to do so.
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, emphasized that MTN’s impact stretches beyond its core business.
“Through the MTN Foundation, the company supports impactful programmes nationwide and sees to it that they align with real community needs,” he said.
One key initiative, “What Can We Do Together,” allows Nigerians to propose community development projects that the Foundation brings to life.
“Since its launch in September 2015, this initiative has transformed lives and contributed to grassroot development across Nigeria,” Okigbo added.
MTN also reported stronger financial results in Q1 2025 following a tough spell marked by foreign exchange losses and inflationary pressures.
The turnaround was supported by a recent 50% tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Capital expenditure surged too, MTN invested N202.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, a 159% increase compared to the N78.1 billion it spent during the same period in 2024.
While the financial numbers are headline-grabbing, MTN’s 2024 sustainability disclosure paints a bigger picture, one of a company working to embed resilience, social impact, and environmental responsibility at the core of its operations.
