MTN to invest $1.6bn to upgrade network, thanks Buhari

MTN to invest $1.6bn to upgrade network, thanks Buhari


President Muhammadu Buhari (M) in a handshake with the MTN Group Chairman, MH Jonas as the Minister of Communications, Dr Ali Isa Pantami (right) looks on during an audience with the Minister of communications and Digital Economy and officials of MTN held at the State House Abuja.

The MTN Group has said it is making further investment in the Nigerian market and would commit 1.6 billion dollars from its operations in the country to strengthen its network and systems. The telecom giant disclosed this when its top management paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock.

Chairman  of the Group, Mr Mcebisi Jonas while leading the group to Aso Rock on a visit to President Buhari said he was visiting along with top executives of the telecoms company to show appreciation to President Buhari, “because most of the issues we raised during your visit to South Africa have been addressed, and there is progress on the remaining ones.”

“We are fully aligned with the strategic agenda of the government, and are committed to strengthening the digital economy of the country,” he said.

The Nigerian Government seized the occasion to reiterate its commitment to providing an enabling environment for businesses to succeed, as partnerships between the public and private sectors remain the most viable means of bringing prosperity to the masses.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement, said President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received the Chairman, MTN Group, Mr Mcebisi Jonas, at State House, Abuja.

The President said: “I am pleased to hear of the progress you are making in Nigeria, especially in supporting our digital inclusion programme

”Your proposed projects, such as the rural telephony project, will surely complement our economic diversification and financial inclusion programmes by connecting the producers based in rural areas to consumers located in our major towns and cities.”

He said government was looking at ways to increase the level of security across critical national infrastructure, noting that it would guarantee seamless service delivery and also facilitate investments across the country.

According to him, Nigeria is Africa’s largest telecommunications market, and MTN’s largest market.

“Our hope is for operators like MTN to continue to focus on delivering quality service at reasonable prices. If we put our minds together, such win-win positions are achievable,” he added.

The MTN Group Chairman said he was visiting along with top executives of the telecoms company to show appreciation to President Buhari, “because most of the issues we raised during your visit to South Africa have been addressed, and there is progress on the remaining ones.”

According to him, the Group has utmost commitment to investing in Nigeria, and would commit 1.6 billion dollars from its operations in the country to strengthen its network and systems.

“We are fully aligned with the strategic agenda of the government, and are committed to strengthening the digital economy of the country,” he said.