NCC gives MTN Nigeria conditional approval for IHS deal

MTN Nigeria gets preliminary NCC clearance for proposed IHS Towers deal

The telecoms regulator has issued conditional approval-in-principle for MTN Nigeria’s proposed acquisition of IHS Towers’ Nigerian business, with the conditions and transaction timetable not yet disclosed in the supplied report.

By BriefingAfrica Newsroom

Published 26 Aug 2026, 15:23 GMT+1Updated 26 Aug 2026, 15:23 GMT+11 source reviewed

Key facts

The Nigerian Communications Commission has granted MTN Nigeria conditional approval-in-principle for the proposed transaction.

The proposed acquisition concerns IHS Towers’ Nigerian business.

The clearance is conditional and in principle, rather than described as unconditional final approval.

TechCabal reported the regulatory decision on 26 August 2026.

The supplied evidence does not disclose the conditions, transaction value, completion timetable or next regulatory steps.

Why it matters

The NCC’s decision marks a regulatory step for MTN Nigeria’s proposed acquisition of IHS Towers’ Nigerian business. However, the conditional approval-in-principle means the transaction should not yet be treated as having unconditional clearance. The practical effect will depend on the undisclosed conditions and any further steps required before completion.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has granted MTN Nigeria conditional approval-in-principle for its proposed acquisition of IHS Towers’ Nigerian business, according to a TechCabal report published on 26 August 2026.

The wording of the decision is significant: it is both conditional and an approval-in-principle. The supplied evidence does not say that the regulator has issued unconditional final approval, nor does it explain what MTN Nigeria must do to satisfy the NCC’s conditions.

The report identifies the proposed target as IHS Towers’ Nigerian business. It does not provide a transaction value, describe the assets or operations included in the proposal, or state when the acquisition could be completed.

Further details will be needed to establish the full implications of the NCC’s decision. The supplied evidence does not indicate whether additional regulatory or corporate approvals are required, whether the parties have agreed a completion timetable, or what would happen if the conditions attached to the approval-in-principle are not met.

For now, the decision represents preliminary regulatory clearance for the proposal rather than confirmation that the acquisition has closed. MTN Nigeria, IHS Towers and the NCC have no further statements or terms included in the supplied evidence.