As Nigerians grapple with what they describe as unusually fast internet data depletion, experts have offered explanations linking the situation to rising costs, increased usage, infrastructure challenges, and regulatory issues, even as labour unions prepare for nationwide protests over recent tariff hikes.
An Information and Communication Technology expert, Engr. Abdulauf Adamu, says the widespread feeling that mobile data is both expensive and short-lived is not imagined. Adamu, Director of Consultancy Services at the Jigawa State Polytechnic for Information and Communication Technology, Kazaure, explained that a combination of technical, economic and behavioural factors is responsible.
According to him, background activities on smartphones significantly contribute to rapid data consumption. He noted that many applications automatically update or run processes in the background without users’ awareness, steadily draining data bundles.
He also pointed to high-definition streaming as a major factor, explaining that most apps default to HD quality unless users manually adjust their settings. The absence of widespread Wi-Fi access across the country further worsens the problem, as Nigerians rely almost entirely on mobile data for all online activities.
On the question of cost, Engr. Adamu said data prices have indeed increased sharply alongside rising consumption. He revealed that the average cost of 1GB of data rose from about ₦287.5 in 2023 to ₦637.5 in 2025, attributing the increase to higher operational costs, foreign exchange pressure, inflation and infrastructure challenges.
At the same time, data usage has surged. Average monthly consumption per subscriber jumped from 3.86GB in mid-2023 to over 8GB by mid-2025, a trend driven by increased smartphone penetration, expanded 4G coverage and gradual rollout of 5G services.
Looking ahead, Adamu warned that pressure on telecom networks will intensify. He cited projections from the Nigerian Communications Commission indicating that mobile data traffic could nearly triple within five years, rising from 11.9 exabytes in 2025 to 31.7 exabytes by 2030.
He also explained that technical differences among telecom operators can influence how fast data is consumed. Variations in network configuration, signal strength, data compression methods and app behaviour across networks can all affect usage. Poor signal quality, he noted, often forces devices to consume more data in an attempt to maintain stable connectivity.
On affordability, Adamu observed that Glo currently offers the cheapest data plans, MTN is known for reliability and speed, while Airtel provides a balance between pricing and performance. However, he stressed that the deeper issue lies in Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment.
According to him, foreign exchange instability, inflation, unreliable power supply and heavy taxation have combined to make telecom operations expensive, with the burden ultimately passed on to consumers. He called for government intervention through improved power supply, enhanced security, regulatory review of levies on telecom operators, and incentives for infrastructure sharing among service providers.
He emphasized that internet access should be treated as a basic utility rather than a luxury, noting that long-term affordability depends on supportive government policies, fair competition and cost-saving innovations by telecom companies.
Echoing these concerns, Dr. Suleiman Isiyaku Muhammad of the Federal University, Dutse, warned that Nigeria’s digital growth is at risk due to rising data costs. He described the reported 200 percent increase experienced by consumers as unjustified and harmful to sectors such as education, healthcare, security and e-commerce.
Dr. Muhammad noted that although the NCC approved a 50 percent tariff increase based on telecom operators’ submissions, subscribers are facing far steeper hikes in reality. He acknowledged the challenges faced by telecom firms, including fuel subsidy removal, inflation, rising maintenance costs and heavy taxation, but argued that these pressures affect all Nigerians.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s telecom market remains the largest in Africa, with over 140 million subscribers generating significant revenue. According to him, the scale of the market should allow operators to absorb some costs without transferring the full burden to consumers.
Muhammad warned that expensive data could slow digital trade, disrupt government revenue collection, and undermine the National Broadband Plan, noting that millions of Nigerians are still without network coverage.
Amid growing public anger, the Nigerian Labour Congress has announced plans to protest the data price hike. Nigerians have been urged to boycott major telecom operators — MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile — between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. from February 13, with a full-scale strike scheduled for March 1.
Meanwhile, Nigerians across professions continue to voice frustration. Journalists, software engineers, students and remote workers say data now “finishes like magic,” even with large subscriptions, raising concerns over transparency and service quality.
As pressure mounts, stakeholders are calling on the NCC, telecom operators, labour unions and the National Assembly to urgently review data pricing and ensure affordable, reliable internet access for Nigerians.
