Nigerians Demand Investigation into Rising Data Costs and Unexplained Consumption

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Telecom subscribers in Nigeria are complaining about unexplained data consumption, prompting them to send emails and direct messages to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), demanding an investigation.

Operators, however, insist that there’s no mechanism for reducing customers’ data, blaming rising consumption on user behaviour, particularly the shift from 3G and 4G to 5G and increased video streaming habits.

The controversy comes as the Nigerian Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to engage operators in reviewing data and internet-related service costs.

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Subscribers remain unconvinced, arguing that the problem lies in the operators’ billing systems rather than their usage habits. “Data prices are too high these days. Every Nigerian should report the operators to NCC, FCCPC, and send them thousands of emails; otherwise, this price hike won’t stop,” one customer said.

Another user complained, “Not only has data become more expensive, but it also seems to deplete faster than before. This is unacceptable.”

Nigeria’s internet consumption crossed the one million terabyte mark for the first time in January 2025, highlighting the surging demand for internet services and Nigeria’s increasing dependence on digital connectivity

An executive at a major telecom company explained, “5G is expanding, and we are seeing more people move from 4G to 5G. The same trend happened when we transitioned between previous network generations. The reality is that as people access faster internet, they consume more data.”

Telcos argue that data quantities are standardized globally, meaning that 1GB in Nigeria is the same as 1GB anywhere else in the world. “There’s no difference in the quantity of data, whether you’re in Nigeria, the US, or Europe. What changes is how people use it,” another telecom insider said.

The rising demand for data services is now the primary driver of telecom revenue, positioning telecom companies to benefit significantly from this growth. Nigerians rank fifth globally in daily social media usage, spending an average of three hours and 23 minutes per day on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and others.

MTN’s revenue rose by 36% to N3.36tn in 2024, driven by continued demand for data and digital services. The CEO of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said, “We are positioning ourselves to capture the opportunities of growth for the next 10 years. The demand for data in Nigeria is exceptional and will continue to grow.

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