MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, has pushed back against the widespread belief that MTN is purely a South African company, insisting that the Nigerian subsidiary is, in every practical sense, a Nigerian business owned largely by Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Toriola explained that while MTN Group was established in South Africa, MTN Nigeria has evolved into a company that is deeply rooted in Nigeria’s economy through local ownership, investments, tax payments, and employment.
His remarks come amid increasing public conversations about the role of multinational companies in Nigeria and the contributions they make to the country’s economy.
According to Toriola, many Nigerians continue to associate MTN with South Africa because the parent company originated there. However, he stressed that the ownership structure of MTN Group has changed significantly over the years.
“We are labelled as a South African company because MTN Group was founded in South Africa. But the reality is that MTN Group has a very diverse global shareholding,” he explained.
Focusing specifically on MTN Nigeria, Toriola said the company is fully incorporated in Nigeria and operates under Nigerian laws.
He added that MTN Nigeria is listed on the Nigerian Exchange, making millions of Nigerians indirect and direct shareholders in the business.
One of the strongest arguments presented by the MTN boss was the level of Nigerian participation in the company’s ownership.
According to him, MTN Nigeria currently has more than 201,000 retail shareholders.
Beyond these direct investors, he disclosed that approximately 11 million Nigerians own stakes in the company indirectly through pension fund investments.
This, he said, demonstrates that the success of MTN Nigeria directly benefits millions of Nigerians.
Rather than viewing the telecom company as foreign-owned, he believes Nigerians should recognize it as a company in which they have substantial financial interests.
Toriola also highlighted MTN Nigeria’s contribution to government revenue.
He said the company pays all required taxes, levies, duties, and regulatory fees expected of businesses operating in the country.
He emphasized that MTN Nigeria is managed primarily by Nigerians and remains committed to supporting the nation’s economic development.
According to him, the company has become one of Nigeria’s largest corporate taxpayers while continuing to invest heavily in infrastructure and technology.
Addressing criticism over recent telecom tariff adjustments, Toriola defended the Federal Government’s approval of higher tariffs.
He explained that many subscribers believed the increase was simply designed to boost profits.
However, he insisted the reality was very different.
According to him, telecom operators were facing severe financial pressure due to rising operational costs, making it increasingly difficult to maintain network services.
He said the industry had reached a point where companies struggled to meet basic operating expenses.
“The tariff adjustment was an absolute necessity. It enabled us to stay alive,” Toriola stated.
Following the tariff adjustment, MTN Nigeria significantly increased its investment in expanding and improving network quality.
Toriola revealed that capital expenditure rose from approximately ₦250 billion in 2024 to nearly ₦1 trillion in 2025.
The additional investment is expected to improve internet speeds, expand network coverage, strengthen capacity, and enhance customer experience across the country.
He noted that these improvements require continuous spending because telecommunications infrastructure is expensive to build and maintain.
The MTN CEO acknowledged ongoing complaints from subscribers regarding poor network quality.
However, he explained that operators often face challenges beyond their control.
Among the major issues affecting network performance are:
- Frequent fibre optic cable cuts during road construction.
- Deliberate vandalism of telecom infrastructure.
- Theft of equipment at network sites.
- Insecurity preventing engineers from accessing certain locations.
- Poor electricity supply, forcing operators to rely heavily on generators.
According to Toriola, these challenges frequently disrupt services despite continuous efforts to improve connectivity.
He added that operators work closely with government agencies and security authorities to protect telecommunications infrastructure nationwide.
Toriola also addressed one of the most common complaints among mobile subscribers—the rapid depletion of data bundles.
Many customers believe telecom companies deliberately deduct their data unfairly.
The MTN boss rejected the allegation, saying repeated investigations have shown that background applications installed on smartphones are responsible for consuming significant amounts of mobile data.
He explained that many apps automatically download updates, synchronize files, back up photos, and refresh content without users noticing.
As a result, customers often assume their network provider is deducting data improperly.
To reduce unnecessary data usage, Toriola advised subscribers to regularly check their phone settings, disable automatic updates where possible, and connect to Wi-Fi for cloud backups and software updates.
Toriola maintained that MTN Nigeria remains committed to improving service delivery while continuing to invest in network expansion across the country.
He believes greater public understanding of the company’s ownership structure and operational challenges will help address misconceptions surrounding the telecom giant.
As Nigeria’s telecommunications industry continues to evolve, MTN says it remains focused on delivering better connectivity while supporting economic growth through investment, employment, and technological innovation.
