MTN Acquisition Of IHS Towers Will Stabilise Telecom Sector — ALTON

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has described MTN’s acquisition of IHS Towers as one of the most significant industry developments in 25 years, reflecting renewed investor confidence and regulatory stability in Nigeria’s telecom sector.

Speaking to journalists while on a visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), ALTON chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo said the transaction signals a healthy and sustainable market environment.

“You are talking about the announcement of the acquisition of IHS Towers by MTN. We think it is a very good development. It speaks to the state of health of the industry,” he said.” He noted that only two to three years ago, concerns were rife about the sustainability of telecom operations in Nigeria.

“Three years ago, we were talking about sustainability. Even those entities were struggling. This would not have happened then,” he stated.

Adebayo buttressed that no investor commits capital to an unstable market.

“Nobody will invest in a market that has no guarantee of return or sustainability. What this shows is that we have a healthy sector capable of attracting the right investment.”

He described “bed IHS Towers as a major infrastructure provider operating about 16,000 towers nationwide and commended its founders for building a global brand from Nigeria.

“It is actually a Nigerian company founded by two brothers, Sam and Mo. It was born in Nigeria and grown for the world, not born outside and brought here,” he said.”Adebayo further asserted that the scale of the deal underscores regulatory certainty under the Nigerian Communications Commission.

“There was a time when licenses were granted and revoked over radio announcements. The kind of investment we are seeing now suggests regulatory stability and policy certainty.

Nowhere do you see this level of transaction if the policy environment is not right,” he averred.

He, however, called on regulators, policymakers, and market actors to support the deal.

“For it to have advanced to this level, we should give credit to everyone. My appeal is that all stakeholders support it for the good of the industry.”

While speaking on possible scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the supervising ministry, Adebayo urged caution against speculation.

“Sometimes”, we are not adequately represented in the public. We need to give the benefit of the doubt. There may be things we are not seeing,” he said.” He added that mergers and acquisitions are signs of a thriving market.