Ambition is easy to communicate. Measurable progress is harder to demonstrate.
For several years, MTN Nigeria has publicly committed to reducing its environmental impact, positioning sustainability as a core part of its long-term business strategy. Through initiatives such as Project Zero and repeated executive statements, the company has outlined a pathway toward achieving net zero emissions by 2040.
However, a review of figures disclosed in MTN Nigeria’s 2025 Sustainability Report suggests a more complex picture, particularly in relation to energy sourcing and recent emissions trends.
MTN’s Net Zero Commitment and Interim Targets
In 2022, MTN Group announced its commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The strategy includes an interim target to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by approximately 47% by 2030, in line with science-based methodologies.
Public statements from company leadership have consistently reinforced this direction. Group CEO Ralph Mupita has linked sustainability to long-term value creation, while MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola has described sustainability efforts as central to operational and strategic decision-making.
These commitments establish a clear benchmark against which progress can be assessed.
Energy Consumption Data Highlights Continued Reliance on Fossil Fuels
According to disclosures in the company’s 2025 Sustainability Report, MTN Nigeria recorded total energy consumption exceeding one million gigajoules during the reporting period.
The report indicates that a significant portion of this energy was derived from fossil fuel sources, particularly diesel and gas-powered generation. Grid electricity accounted for a smaller share of total consumption, reflecting ongoing challenges with national power supply reliability.
The same report shows that onsite renewable energy contributed a very small proportion of total energy use. Based on the figures presented, renewable sources represented approximately 0.05% of the company’s total energy mix for 2025.
While the report does not frame this figure as a standalone performance indicator, it provides an important reference point in evaluating the pace of energy transition within the business.
Reported Emissions Increased in 2025
MTN Nigeria’s disclosures also indicate that Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions for 2025 were approximately 106,588 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
This represents an increase of about 4.8% compared to the previous reporting period. The company attributes this rise primarily to network expansion and increased reliance on diesel-powered generation, linked to constraints in grid electricity supply.
Although year-on-year fluctuations can occur in infrastructure-heavy sectors, the increase is notable in the context of the company’s medium-term emissions reduction targets.
External Comparisons Provide Context, With Important Limitations
Comparisons with global telecom operators highlight the diversity of operating environments within the sector.
For example, T-Mobile has reported significantly higher levels of renewable energy usage across its operations. However, such comparisons must be interpreted cautiously, as differences in regulatory frameworks, energy markets, and infrastructure reliability can materially affect outcomes.
Nigeria’s power sector challenges, including grid instability and fuel supply constraints, are well documented and continue to influence operational energy decisions for telecom providers.
Structural Constraints Continue to Shape Energy Strategy
MTN Nigeria operates within a context where uninterrupted power supply is critical to service delivery. Given the scale of its network infrastructure, including thousands of base stations, reliance on alternative power sources such as diesel generators remains a practical necessity in many locations.
The company’s sustainability disclosures reference ongoing efforts to improve energy efficiency and expand the use of alternative energy solutions, including solar deployments in selected sites.
These initiatives indicate progress, though their current scale appears limited relative to total energy demand.
Assessing Progress Against Long-Term Targets
MTN’s net zero commitment extends to 2040, with a significant interim milestone set for 2030. Achieving these targets will likely require a substantial shift in energy sourcing, infrastructure investment, and operational efficiency over the coming years.
The 2025 data provides a snapshot of current positioning rather than a definitive measure of long-term success or failure. However, it also highlights the scale of transformation required to align present conditions with stated ambitions.
A Question of Pace and Alignment
This analysis does not suggest non-compliance with any regulatory requirement, nor does it challenge the validity of MTN Nigeria’s stated commitments.
Instead, it underscores a broader question relevant to many organizations pursuing net zero targets: whether current trajectories are sufficient to meet long-term goals within the stated timelines.
As companies increasingly anchor their strategies around sustainability, the relationship between public commitments and reported outcomes will continue to attract scrutiny from stakeholders, including investors, regulators, and the public.
For MTN Nigeria, the figures disclosed in its 2025 Sustainability Report provide a basis for that ongoing assessment.
