Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, has mounted a robust defence of the country's mobile data pricing, asserting that Nigeria continues to rank among the world's four most affordable data markets even after a controversial 50 per cent tariff adjustment. Toriola made the declaration on Saturday, June 6, 2026, during the MTN Data Trial conference in Lagos, directly challenging critics who have accused telecommunications operators of overcharging customers amidst a deepening cost‑of‑living crisis.
Addressing an audience of industry stakeholders and journalists, Toriola dismissed claims of excessive pricing and urged Nigerians to benchmark local rates against international markets. “Influencers and critics, look at the price at which we sell bundles of data. Then now take that price, go and check in Kenya, go and check in Congo, go and check across the world, and tell me if data in Nigeria is not among the four cheapest in the world,” he said. He acknowledged that Ghana also offers very cheap data, but insisted that Nigerian operators—MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile—provide some of the lowest prices globally even after the recent tariff hike.
The telecoms boss’s remarks come on the heels of mounting consumer frustration over a 50 per cent tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in January 2025. The NCC, which had not raised tariffs since 2013, approved the hike after telecom operators initially demanded a 100 per cent rise to cover surging operational costs driven by inflation and naira devaluation. The adjustment raised the floor price for calls from N6.40 to N9.60 per minute, SMS from N4 to N6, and 1GB of data from N287.50 to N431.25.
The NCC defended the decision as a necessary step to ensure the long‑term viability of the telecommunications sector, citing the need to sustain infrastructure investment and improve service quality. However, the hike triggered a firestorm of protest from consumers and labour unions. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned the move as “insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship”.
Toriola’s recent assertion that Nigeria ranks among the world’s cheapest data markets is supported by independent international data. According to the 2025 Global Relocate Internet Cost Ranking, Nigeria ranks 31st globally and second in Africa for affordable mobile data, with 1GB costing an average of just $0.39. Malawi holds the top spot on the continent at $0.38 per gigabyte, followed by Nigeria, Ghana ($0.40), Somalia ($0.50), and Rwanda ($0.55). In stark contrast, Zimbabwe remains the world’s most expensive market, where 1GB costs a staggering $43.75.
The relative affordability of Nigerian data owes much to fierce competition among telecom providers. Globacom (Glo) is widely recognized as the nation's most affordable network, offering 1GB for as low as ₦350, while MTN, Airtel, and 9mobile continue to roll out competitive packages to retain market share. However, critics argue that low headline prices often come with compromises in service quality, including slow speeds and poor rural coverage. Toriola himself has previously acknowledged the sector’s fragility, describing it as being “in an intensive care unit” and in need of urgent price reform to prevent collapse.
Despite the strength of the operators’ financial position—MTN Nigeria alone reported a turnover exceeding N2.4 trillion in 2025—the impact of the tariff hike on consumers has been immediate and tangible. Analysis of NCC data indicates a slowdown in new telephone line activation following the January increase, with operators losing more than 276,000 active subscribers between April and May 2026. This suggests that even a modest price adjustment in a price‑sensitive market like Nigeria can drive users away, even as operators argue that sustainability demands higher tariffs.
As the debate over data affordability intensifies, Toriola’s “four cheapest” claim serves as both a defence of industry pricing and a challenge to Nigerian consumers to look beyond their own economic struggles and consider the country’s position on the global stage. But for millions of Nigerians who now pay N431.25 for 1GB of data instead of N287.50, global rankings offer little comfort as they struggle to navigate a digital economy that remains essential to daily life—and increasingly out of reach.
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