MTN Nigeria has announced an interim dividend payout of ₦26 per share to shareholders following a highly impressive H1, in which the telecommunications compay raked in ₦ 3 trillion (25.9%) in service revenue. The interim dividend is payable from net distributable income and is subject to applicable withholding tax.
“Buoyed by our performance, the Board has approved an interim dividend of ₦26 per share,” CEO/MD MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said in a LinkedIn post, “creating value for the hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who own MTN Nigeria directly, and the millions more who participate through pension and institutional investments. To our shareholders, thank you for your confidence. It inspires ours.”
MTN’s subscribers grew 8.9% to 92.2 million, of which 55.75 million were active data subscribers, and the average user used 14.8 GB in the period under review. These numbers contributed to data revenue growing 38.4% to 1.7 trillion, while voice revenue stayed just under a trillion (₦993.5 billion) after a 12% surge.
Toriola says that while the numbers reflect a strong first half, they tell a much bigger story, one of sustained investment in the infrastructure powering Nigeria’s digital economy. He argues that the telco has a greater responsibility to build resilient digital infrastructure as Nigeria becomes increasingly digital and more people continue to embrace digital services, consume data, and come online.
He also revealed that MTN invested more than ₦620 billion to expand network capacity, strengthen coverage, and accelerate home broadband. Toriola maintains that these investments transcend technology; they’re about connecting communities, enabling businesses, supporting innovation, and creating opportunities across Nigeria.
However, the question the majority of Nigerians would keep asking is when these investments will translate into quality voice and data services they can rely on round-the-clock, without always having to find alternative options for work and business.
MTN H1 in numbers
- Data revenue 1.7 trillion (+38.4%)
- Voice revenue N993.5 billion (+12.0%)
- Digital revenue +20.9%
- Fintech revenue -7.2%
- Earning before interest, tax, depreciation, ammortisation (EBITDA) 1.7 trillion +37.2%
- Profit after tax 707.5 billion (70.7%)
- Mobile subscribers 92.2 million (+8.9%)
- Active data subscribers 55.75 million (+9.3%)
- Data usage per active user 14.8GB (+15.2%)
Toriola has promised Nigerians that MTN will continue to invest to improve the customer experience and strengthen network quality. The telco is aware of some customer dissatisfaction and wants to earn the trust of its customers and stakeholders through greater transparency, deeper engagement, and consistent delivery on its promises. Subscribers would definitely want to see more than promises; they want fast, reliable networks and data services they can bank on.
