Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Nigerian man has ignited a major online debate over MTN Nigeria’s “Silver Unlimited” data plan after he published a video showing himself storming into a MTN office to complain that his 150GB monthly plan was completely exhausted in just six days. The customer, who identified himself as Chukwuma (surname not disclosed), told staff that he purchased the N30,000 plan on 22 April 2026. By 28 April, he said, his internet had slowed to a crawl and the USSD code showed his data allowance depleted. “I am a serious user, but not that serious. How can 150GB finish in six days? The person wey go school for this network?” he asked in the viral video.
In the clip, Chukwuma is seen holding his phone and confronting customer care representatives, while a friend records the exchange. A staff member showed him a breakdown of data usage, claiming his phone had consumed large amounts of data through background apps, streaming and social media. Chukwuma rejected this explanation, insisting that he uses the same phone and same apps he has always used. “This plan is supposed to last me one month. Last month I bought the same Silver Unlimited and it lasted 25 days. Now it’s gone in six days. Something is wrong,” he said.
MTN’s Silver Unlimited plan, which costs N30,000, offers 150GB of high‑speed data, after which speeds are throttled to 2GB per day for the rest of the 30‑day validity period. This is clearly stated in the Fair Usage Policy (FUP) that accompanies all “unlimited” plans. However, customers have long complained that the term “unlimited” is misleading. Critics point out that a hard cap of 150GB contradicts the ordinary meaning of unlimited, and many users only discover the cap after the data disappears.
The incident has drawn widespread reactions on social media. Some users sided with the customer, sharing their own stories of unexplained data depletion on MTN and other networks. Others defended the network, pointing to the fine print and suggesting that the customer may have unknowingly left background updates or cloud backups active. MTN has not issued an official response to the viral video, but a customer service agent in the clip was seen advising Chukwuma to contact the company’s digital support team for a detailed usage audit.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has previously fined operators for misleading advertising and poor transparency in data plans. In 2021, the NCC issued new guidelines requiring clear disclosure of fair usage policies and the explicit display of data thresholds. Consumer rights advocates have since argued that the word “unlimited” should be banned altogether unless no hard cap exists. “The word ‘unlimited’ creates a reasonable expectation of no quantitative limit. Imposing a 150GB cap and then calling it unlimited is deceptive, even if the cap is buried in the fine print,” said a telecom rights activist who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity.
As the video continues to trend, Chukwuma has vowed to escalate the matter to the NCC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). He has also urged other subscribers to share their own experiences. For now, MTN has not announced any change to its product description, but the controversy is likely to fuel renewed calls for regulatory clarity on the use of “unlimited” in Nigerian telecom marketing.
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