MTN Nigeria Communications has revealed plans to invest more than N600bn in network infrastructure over the next three years, in a bid to improve telecommunications services across the country.
This was revealed by the Chairman of MTN Nigeria Communications, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, during the company’s 20th anniversary celebration held in Lagos.
According to Ndukwe, the telecommunications giant is committed to specifically expanding its rural connectivity to reach areas that are underserved across the country. He also revealed that the firm plans to plan to connect approximately 1000 rural communities to its network this year with an additional 2000 communities in 2022.
In addition, Ndukwe is optimistic that Nigeria’s digital economy is bright, he therefore called on a greater synergy and collaboration between public and private stakeholders with a motive of building a digitally connected country.
On the other hand, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Karl Toriola, restated MTN’s planned participation in the restoration and rehabilitation of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway through the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Tax Credit ((RITC) Scheme.
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This is a response to the government’s drive towards public-private partnership in the rehabilitation of critical road infrastructure in Nigeria, Toriola said
“We’ve initiated plans for the construction of a purpose-built, state-of-the-art head office in Lagos.
“We will also be selling down 14 per cent of MTN shares to over two million Nigerian retail investors,” Toriola said.
In addition, he thanked the government for its vision in liberalizing the telecommunications sector and the robust framework developed by the regulators. He said: “We firmly believe that Nigeria’s digital journey is only just beginning and that the future is filled with promises.
“Working together, we can and will build the more prosperous and inclusive future we seek and empower even more Nigerian to do greater things.”
Naijabusiness.com.ng understands that MTN Nigeria currently provides services in 223 cities and towns, in more than 10,000 villages and communities, in the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory. The telecommunications giant launched its services on Aug. 8, 2001, connecting about 69 million people in communities across the country to date.
