MTN Nigeria has rolled out extensive price adjustments across its data plans, with some popular offerings seeing increases of up to 200%. The changes, which took effect Monday afternoon, follow the Nigerian Communications Commission’s January approval of a 50% tariff hike.
The new pricing structure shows significant changes across all tiers. The monthly 75GB plan has increased from ₦16,000 to ₦20,000, marking a 25% rise. The 1.8GB monthly plan now costs ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB option at ₦1,000, while the 20GB plan has jumped to ₦7,500 from ₦5,500. The 15GB plan sees a notable increase to ₦6,500 from its previous ₦4,500.
Voice services have also been affected, with call rates increasing from ₦11 to ₦18 per minute. MTN’s weekly 15GB bundle, previously priced at ₦2,000, now costs ₦6,000, marking one of the most dramatic increases in the company’s pricing history.
“A price increase has been implemented to enhance our services and serve you better,” MTN stated in response to customer complaints on social media.
Historical data shows a dramatic shift in pricing trends. The average cost of 1GB of data in Nigeria had previously fallen from $12.44 in 2010 to $1.57 in 2020, reaching as low as $0.22 (approximately ₦350) recently. However, this latest round of increases marks a significant reversal in this long-term trend.
Ernest Akinlola, a telecommunications industry veteran, views the adjustments as necessary despite their magnitude. “The tariff hike, while insufficient, represents a crucial step for the industry’s survival,” he told Techpoint Africa.
The price revisions come at a challenging time for Nigerian consumers, who are already grappling with a 34.80% inflation rate and food costs that have surged to 40%. Digital content creator Mubarak Uniquepikin expressed concern about the impact on online businesses. “Many young people already struggle to buy data, and this will definitely make it worse for them,” he told the BBC.
Telecom operators defend the changes, citing unchanged tariffs over the past 11 years despite mounting operational costs and currency pressures. MTN recorded a ₦514 billion loss in 2024, largely attributed to foreign exchange challenges following the naira’s devaluation.
While MTN leads this pricing shift, industry observers expect Airtel and Globacom to implement similar changes. Airtel has already introduced a 25 kobo flat rate for voice calls but hasn’t yet adjusted data prices.
The average cost of 1GB of data in Nigeria has historically shown a downward trend, falling from $12.44 in 2010 to $0.22 in recent years. However, this latest round of increases may reverse this pattern as operators seek to maintain service quality amid economic headwinds.
Customer reactions have been predominantly negative, with many criticising the lack of prior notice and the timing of the increases amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges.
The changes affect both individual consumers and businesses, particularly those relying heavily on digital platforms for their operations.
