MTN Nigeria plans to use an additional $1 billion to invest in upgrading its network in the country, according to statements by the company's CEO this week. The announcement was made at the company's staff party as it celebrated 10 years in Nigeria. Chief Executive Officer of the telecom giant, Brett Goschen said that a good investor “should seize further investments in a dynamic market like the Nigerian economy.” Goschen who was represented by the company's Executive Director of Human Resources, Amina Oyegbola said that investments' expansion is a further commitment of the MTN to buttress its position as leading telecom services provider in the nation's economy. According to Goschen, MTN has paid over N700 billion as taxes and levies in its 10 years of operation in Nigeria, which has given the company the best corporate tax payer at both the state and federal level. He said MTN staff strength is made up of 99 percent Nigerians in the country with some 2,200 permanent workers, 349 management staff and that 70 per cent of executive management committee members are Nigerians. He said: “We have close to 7,000 base transceiver stations located all over the country and we are still rolling out more. We have deployed one of the most expensive fiber optic (over 8,530km) and microwave infrastructure (Y'ellobahn-11,500km) in sub Saharan-Africa. “As we progress with our operations, MTN embraces a win-win ideology that stimulates economic development and a vibrant stable society. To maintain our leadership position, we would continue not only to out-invest the competition but also persist in providing innovative products and services that satisfy the aspirations of our teeming customers.” BM
