MTN Nigeria Plc has recorded Foreign Exchange, forex loss of N740 billion in its financial year 2023, according to its report released on the Nigeria Exchange Limited, NGX, on Friday.

Consequently, the forex loss impacted negatively on its performance as it posted a loss before tax of N177.8 billion compared to a pre-tax profit of N518.8billion in the previous year.

Against this backdrop, Mr Karl Toriola, MTN’s Chief Executive Officer, said “despite headwinds, we remain optimistic and committed. We believe in Nigeria”.

The company’s audited results for the year ended 31 December 2023, as indicated by it resulted in a loss after tax amounting to N137billion. This sharp contrast was evident compared to the restated Profit After Tax (PAT) of N348.7 billion reported in 2022.

MTN stated that the repercussions of this financial decline extended to negative retained earnings and shareholders’ equity, reported at N208 billion and N40.8billion respectively, as of December 2023.
The reports stated that adjusting for the substantial net forex loss, the restated PAT would have been N344.5billion, reflecting a 14.3 percent decrease.

The report stated, “The significant devaluation of the naira in 2023 resulted in a materially higher net forex loss of N740.4billion (2022 restated: N81.8bn), reflected within net finance costs, which resulted in a reported loss after tax of N137bn compared to a restated PAT of N348.7billion in 2022.”

On 14 June 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced changes in the Nigerian forex operations, which required the immediate collapse of all segments of the market into the investor and exporter window and reintroduced the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ model to improve forex liquidity.

This led to a 96.7 percent movement in the exchange rate since the announcement of N907/US$ (NAFEM rate) at the end of December 2023 as the market seeks an equilibrium level.

MTN said this significant movement in the exchange rate impacted its operations especially its operating expenses and net been finance costs.

“The most significant of these exposures relate to the tower lease costs, which comprised the bulk of the 45-50 percent foreign currency exposure in our operating expenses in 2023.

“Our tower lease costs are recognised in line with IFRS 16 and IAS 21, which has had several impacts on our financial performance,” the company said.

Toriola also explained: “2023 witnessed a very challenging operating environment characterized by rising inflation, currency devaluation, and foreign exchange shortages, complicated by geopolitical disruptions and cash shortages in Q1 arising from a redesign of the naira.

These factors created severe headwinds for our customers and our business during the year.
The inflation rate increased throughout the year, reaching 28.9 percent in December 2023 – the highest reading in 18 years, with an average rate of 24.5 percent.”

The CEO said this was further exacerbated by higher fuel prices, arising from the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, with the average prices of diesel and petrol up by 66.4% and 257.1 % in 2023 to N1,416.8/litre and N600/litre, respectively.

To mitigate the effects of these headwinds on its operations, Toriola said the company continued to invest in network infrastructure – with a disciplined focus on value-based capital allocation and efficiencies – to enhance capacity and expand coverage.

“This enabled us to meet the rising demand for data and, coupled with compelling and competitive propositions for our customers, accelerate the growth of our commercial operations,” he said.