Over 37.2 million MTN subscribers in Nigeria (representing 48.7% of the company’s subscriber base) have submitted their National Identification Numbers (NINs).

This is according to the company’s results for the financial year ended 31 December 2020.

CEO Ferdi Moolman reiterated the telco’s position regarding the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directive regarding SIM registration.

“In view of the new directive on SIM registration, our immediate priority is to protect our base by collaborating with NIMC to drive NIN enrolment and ensure that our customers’ records are updated with NINs,” said Moolman.

As part of his update on the company’s operational outlook, Moolman added that it remains focused on its MoMo business and will continue to engage with the CBN regarding obtaining a Payment Service Bank (PSB) licence.

“… which would help to accelerate this ambition of broadening financial participation and inclusion. In the meantime, we will continue to expand the agent network through our one distribution model, broaden our service offerings and drive the overall contribution of our core Fintech business to service revenue.”

According to MTN Nigeria its active data users increased by 7.4 million to 32.6 million, supported by growth in gross connections and the expansion of its 4G network. Its MoMo business recorded a 269.2% increase in the number of registered agents to over 395,000 and 4.7 million active subscribers.

The company stated that its mobile subscribers increased by 12.2 million to reach 76.5 million, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 9.7% to N685.7-billion, and service revenue increased by 14.7% to NGN1.3-trillion.

Moolman said MTN Nigeria would fast-track the roll out of 4G sites and continue to expand rural coverage.

While acknowledging the impact that COVID-19 has had on the company and its operations in Nigeria, Moolman said the business remains focused on the safety and wellbeing of staff, customers and broader stakeholders.

“As we navigated the fallout of the pandemic, adapting our processes and structures to the new realities, we acted swiftly to support the national response in a holistic way… the pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to businesses and impacted lives and livelihoods. Although the operating environment remains challenging, the easing of lockdown restrictions led to an improvement in economic activity and market conditions into H2.”