MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9mobile) have signed a three-year national roaming agreement, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The deal enables 9mobile subscribers to seamlessly roam on MTN’s expansive network, significantly expanding 9mobile’s coverage and improving service quality nationwide.
The collaboration is also part of a broader partnership that includes a spectrum leasing arrangement, whereby 9mobile will lease its 900MHz (5MHz) and 1800MHz (15MHz) spectrum bands to MTN for three years — a move expected to further enhance MTN’s network capacity and user experience.
In a joint press statement issued on Thursday, both telecom giants described the agreement as a bold step toward industry cooperation and a critical boost for Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.
Obafemi Banigbe, CEO of 9mobile, described the deal as a “bold resurgence” for the telco, emphasizing its importance for customers, especially youths and entrepreneurs, who demand robust, high-quality connectivity.
“It empowers us to meet the needs of our customers, especially youthful and enterprise users, by delivering consistent, high-quality service as we roll out city by city in the weeks ahead,” Banigbe stated.
He praised Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, and Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, for enabling the partnership, noting that the deal aligns with a more cost-efficient and collaborative model for telecom operations.
“Rather than duplicating networks, we’re investing in access that is commercially viable and sustainable,” he said. “Network infrastructure typically accounts for 70–75% of an operator’s costs; savings here mean we can reinvest in innovation and customer experience.”
Echoing Banigbe’s optimism, Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, described the agreement as a milestone in telecom innovation and a boost to digital inclusion.
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to industry innovation, customer-centricity, and support for the NCC’s goal of a fully connected Nigeria,” Toriola stated. “It reflects our shared value philosophy, prioritizing partnerships that benefit the entire ecosystem.”
Toriola also commended Minister Tijani’s leadership in fostering industry-wide collaboration to improve digital access and service delivery.
