MTN Nigeria added about 2.73 million new customers in just five months, pushing its subscriber base to nearly 97 million by May 2026. That puts Nigeria’s biggest network closer than ever to hitting the 100 million subscriber mark, a milestone no operator in the country has ever reached.
According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), MTN’s subscriber base grew from 94.25 million in January 2026 to 96.98 million in May. That is a steady climb of roughly half a million new users every month.
By May, MTN alone accounted for about 51% of all subscribers among Nigeria’s four biggest networks. That means more than one in every two phone lines among the top operators belongs to MTN.
MTN is not the only one growing. Airtel Nigeria posted the fastest growth of any operator, rising from 62.04 million to 65.45 million subscribers in the same period, adding more than 3.4 million users. That growth is narrowing the gap between the two biggest networks, even though MTN still leads by a wide margin.
Globacom also grew, moving from 22.46 million to 23.47 million subscribers, a gain of just over one million. This came after the operator’s subscriber numbers took a hit in 2024 during an industry-wide verification exercise.
T2, the network formerly known as 9mobile, added nearly 282,000 subscribers, rising from 3.26 million to 3.54 million. It remains a distant fourth, but the numbers show its long decline has slowed down.
Altogether, the four operators added more than 7.5 million new subscriptions in five months, combining for close to 190 million subscribers by May.
MTN’s lead is not just about having more customers than anyone else. The operator has spent heavily on network investment, expanding its coverage and pushing into new areas like fintech and fibre broadband. This has helped it hold onto both voice and data customers even as rivals fight for market share.
Analysts watching the sector say the race is shifting. It is no longer only about who has the most SIM cards active. Operators are now competing on network quality, internet speed and how well they serve customers who want more than just calls and texts.
For everyday phone users, this kind of competition usually means better network coverage and more pressure on operators to keep prices fair. As MTN edges toward 100 million users, expect the network to keep investing in coverage to protect its lead, while Airtel keeps pushing hard to close the gap.
If MTN crosses the 100 million mark, it would be a first for any telecom operator in Nigeria’s history, a sign of just how much bigger the country’s mobile market has grown.
MTN has not yet confirmed exactly when it expects to cross 100 million subscribers. Based on its current pace of growth, it could happen within the next few months, but this is not officially confirmed by the company, so treat any exact date as an estimate rather than a fact.
