MTN Nigeria has defended the cost of mobile data in the country, insisting that Nigeria remains among the cheapest data markets in the world despite recent tariff adjustments.
Speaking at its "Data on Trial" conference in Lagos, Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, said claims that mobile data is overpriced are unfounded, arguing that the country's data rates compare favourably with those in Kenya, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other markets.
The conference was a live public forum hosted by MTN Nigeria to address consumer concerns about rapid data depletion and unexplained usage.
The event featured a courtroom-style format in which technology creators cross-examined network engineers to promote transparency around data consumption.
"Nigeria is among the four cheapest in the world," said Toriola, adding that operators in the country continue to offer competitive bundles despite the 2025 tariff review.
The remarks come amid criticism following the Nigerian Communications Commission approval of a 50% tariff increase in January 2025 - the first adjustment since 2013.
The increase was introduced to help operators cover rising costs and support infrastructure investment, but has been criticised by consumers and labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, which argues that it adds to economic pressure despite being lower than operators' initial request.
At the event, MTN also outlined plans to launch a data usage tracking platform by the end of June 2026 to address complaints about rapid data depletion.
The portal will allow subscribers to monitor real-time consumption, identify applications driving usage, and track data consumed through hotspot and Wi-Fi connections.
According to Ugonwa Nwoye, chief customer relations and experience officer at MTN Nigeria, the tool will also provide insights into streaming quality and overall consumption patterns to improve transparency and user control.
The company demonstrated early versions of the system during the event, where app-level diagnostics identified background software activity as a significant driver of data usage. MTN says it is refining the platform based on customer feedback and testing ahead of a full rollout.
Toriola said rising data consumption reflects Nigeria's growing digital economy, driven by increased smartphone adoption, remote working and social media usage.
He urged customers to use existing tools, including MTN's data calculator and usage codes, to better manage their consumption.
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