MTN Nigeria has defended its recent tariff adjustment, saying the increase was critical to saving the company and the entire telecommunications industry from financial collapse.
The Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, made the remarks during a stakeholder engagement session titled ‘Data on Trial’ held in Lagos.
Survival Was at Stake
Toriola explained that prior to the tariff review, MTN was in a dire financial situation and could barely meet its obligations.
“The tariff increase was implemented for one primary reason: to allow the industry to survive,” he said. “At that point, we practically could not pay our bills for diesel, rent, and software licences. We were effectively bankrupt.”
He added that the company was technically insolvent with negative equity at the time, and without the adjustment, network operations would have been at serious risk of shutdown.
Major Investment Plans
Despite the challenges, MTN remains committed to expanding and upgrading its infrastructure. Toriola disclosed that the company invested N900 billion in 2025 and intends to spend more than N1 trillion in 2026.
“We invest more in the expansion and maintenance of this company than we make in profits,” he noted.
Addressing Operational Realities
The CEO attributed ongoing network quality issues to the harsh operating environment, including frequent vandalism, insecurity, and interference by local miscreants at telecom sites.
Nevertheless, Toriola expressed pride in the quality of service the company delivers, describing it as close to global standards.
On customer complaints regarding data depletion, he explained that unlimited data packages are not sustainable due to capacity constraints. He also argued that data prices in Nigeria remain among the cheapest in the world, even after the recent review.
Consumer Education Drive
The company’s Chief Customer Relations and Experience Officer, Ugonwa Nwonye, announced the introduction of new tools to help subscribers monitor and manage their data consumption more effectively. These include a data calculator and a personalised data dashboard, which will be rolled out by the end of the month.
The session, hosted in a courtroom-style format by media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, aimed to foster better understanding of data usage patterns and address long-standing subscriber concerns.
MTN said it will take the consumer education campaign across the country over the next six months to improve transparency and customer experience.
