The chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, has showered praises on its over 68.9 million subscribers who have sustained the network over the past 20 years.
He also thanked the government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for providing effective regulatory environment for the telecom operators to thrive.
To show appreciation to its clients, the company said it will give 20 customers new Honda HRVs to commemorate its 20th year anniversary.
Toriola who disclosed this in a statement as the network marks 20 years anniversary of the roll out of GSM in the country, said: “Ours has been a classic case of ‘together in progress,’ and we are thankful to all Nigerians for standing by us and helping us get to this milestone.
“Indeed, anything we’ve achieved over the past 20 years is due to the support and faith of our customers – the people who sustain our network, the government and regulators who have been guides and allies in driving sector growth, all the contractors and partners who have worked by our side, and the thousands of investors who hold our stock.
“Finally, I must especially appreciate the people who helped shape our journey – MTN Nigeria’s board of directors and our staff, past and present; and reiterate our unwavering commitment to the advancement of this great nation, which we have humbly contributed to.”
Since MTN Nigeria began commercial operations on August 8, 2001, it has paid over N2 trillion in taxes and levies to the federal government.
The company’s chief operations officer, Mazen Mroue, who disclosed this as MTN’s value contribution to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, said, in January 2020, the figure stood at N1.7 trillion and this year it has risen to more than N2 trillion.
As part of its tax remittance to the federal government, Mroue said evidence, however, showed that MTN had consistently paid its taxes to the Nigerian government.
In its half year results, MTN said it planned to participate in the restoration and rehabilitation of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway through the federal government’s road infrastructure tax credit scheme.
The company also said it would initiate plans for the construction of a purpose-built, state of the art head office, in Lagos as part of its 20th anniversary.
