By the G&BJournal
WED FEB 18 2026-theGBJournal| The Federal government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, officially intervened in the MTN’s $6.2 billion deal to buy-IHS, signaling that the state will not simply rubber-stamp a merger of this magnitude.
MTN Group had on Monday announced a definitive agreement to acquire IHS Towers in a deal valuing the company at an enterprise value of approximately $6.2 billion.
This transaction which represents a historic shift in the African telecommunications landscape, marks the reversal of a decade-long industry trend toward “asset-light” models.
However, Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani in a statement on Tuesday announced a “thorough assessment” of the transaction, as Telecom towers, in Nigeria are increasingly viewed as “Critical National Infrastructure.
”Our objective is clear: to ensure that any market consolidation or structural changes protect consumers, safeguard investments, and preserve the long-term sustainability of the sector,” Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani said, a statement that assures that the “flagging” is less about stopping the deal and more about leveraging control over how it unfolds.
The federal government’s concerns are centered on three specific pillars of the “Renewed Hope” policy agenda: National Security, Market Sustainability and Consumer Protection.
The federal government is concerned that having a single private entity (especially a multinational like MTN) control both the retail network and the physical towers creates a single point of failure and a significant concentration of power.
They are wary that if MTN gains an unfair infrastructure advantage, it could bankrupt smaller players or force them into unfavorable terms, destabilizing the sector’s fragile recovery.
Besides, if MTN “internalizes” its tower costs but keeps retail prices high, or if competitors pass on higher “rent” costs to their own customers, the Nigerian consumer loses.
Dr. Tijani noted the recent financial results announced by key operators, which indicate a return to improved profitability, increased investment in telecoms infrastructure and operational stability across the sector.
”This progress reflects the resilience of the industry and the impact of reforms aimed at ensuring its viability and capacity to continue delivering meaningful connectivity to Nigerians,” he said, while emphasizing that the Federal Government remains committed to maintaining a stable, transparent, and forward-looking policy environment that keeps Nigeria’s telecommunications industry on a strong and sustainable path, in alignment with our broader vision of building a robust digital economy.
X-@theGBJournal|Facebook-the Government and Business Journal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
