By Tony Obiechina
MTN Group has reported a 69 per cent decline in full-year earnings, citing the impact of Nigeria’s naira devaluation and operational difficulties in Sudan.
The company with headquarters in South Africa announced on Monday that its headline earnings per share—a key profitability measure fell sharply to 98 cents for the year ending December 31, down from 315 cents in 2023.
The financial downturn was largely attributed to Nigeria’s ongoing foreign exchange crisis, which has led to chronic dollar shortages and multiple currency devaluations.
In a bid to stabilize the naira and attract investment, the Central Bank of Nigeria implemented devaluation measures that significantly affected businesses operating in the country, including MTN.
Rising inflation and high interest rates further exacerbated the situation, increasing operational costs and contributing to the telecom giant’s financial slump.
MTN Nigeria, a key subsidiary of the group, bore the brunt of the economic turmoil. Its pre-tax loss surged by over 200 per cent, reaching N550.3bn ($355.76m).
In response, the company has initiated several measures aimed at restoring profitability, including renegotiating tower leases and implementing a tariff hike, which received regulatory approval in January.
Despite the challenging economic environment, MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita said the company remains optimistic about the recovery prospects in Nigeria.
“That pain which we’ve had for 18 months is abating somewhat,” Mupita stated during a media briefing. “The business is growing very strongly. So, I’m actually very bullish and confident that we’ll see a strong recovery in Nigeria.”
Beyond Nigeria, MTN’s performance in Sudan was also hampered by the country’s ongoing armed conflict. The unrest led to network impairments totalling 11.7bn rands ($643.40m), significantly affecting operations in the capital, Khartoum, where services had been down since April 2023.
However, the company has reported gradual improvements, with some sites being restored in previously conflict-ridden areas.
Despite the downturn, MTN’s overall group service revenue stood at 177.8bn rand, reflecting a 15 per cent decline. However, in constant currency terms, the company noted a 14 per cent rise in service revenue, buoyed by growth in data, fintech, digital, and enterprise services, particularly in its home market of South Africa, where service revenue increased by 3.1 per cent.
To reassure investors, MTN declared a final dividend of 345 cents per share and projected a minimum dividend of 370 cents for the 2025 financial year. While the company continues to navigate economic and geopolitical challenges across its markets, the management said it remains focused on strategic initiatives aimed at stabilizing its operations and ensuring long-term profitability.
The telecom giant said it is actively engaging with regulatory authorities, implementing cost-cutting measures, and leveraging its digital transformation strategy to drive revenue growth.
With confidence in Nigeria’s long-term market potential, MTN said it is optimistic about a turnaround despite the current headwinds.
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