MTN Nigeria has officially increased its data tariffs by up to 200%, following approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The telecommunications giant confirmed the price hike in a statement on its X (formerly Twitter) page, citing the need to improve service delivery.
“Y’ello! Thanks for stopping by. We apologise for any inconvenience and delayed response. A price increase has been implemented to enhance our services and serve you better, which is why you are seeing the updated amount,” the company stated.
The NCC had earlier approved a maximum 50% tariff increase for telecom operators, citing prevailing market conditions and economic realities.
According to Reuben Mouka, the commission’s spokesperson, the decision aligns with Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
“The adjustment, capped at a maximum of 50 per cent of current tariffs, though lower than the over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability,” Mouka stated.
Despite the NCC’s 50% limit, MTN’s new pricing structure reflects increases of up to 200%, as observed by SaharaReporters.
- 15GB bundle: ₦6,000 (previously ₦2,000)
- 1.5TB plan: ₦240,000 (previously ₦150,000)
- 100GB bundle: ₦25,000 for 90GB (previously ₦20,000 for 100GB)
- 600GB bundle: ₦120,000 for 480GB (previously ₦75,000 for 600GB)
The price hike has sparked concerns among subscribers, who are already grappling with the economic challenges in the country.
Many have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the new prices, calling on the company to reconsider the increase.
An X user, Khan wrote: “I think it’s high time we boycotted MTN. Their network is terrible, and their data plans are a rip-off. the 15GB package doesn’t even last three days. During the protest, they deliberately sabotaged their own network to prevent it from happening.”
Another user, Silva wrote: “Nigeria is a very difficult place to live in honestly. MTN waking up one day to increase their weekly 15gb data from 2k to 6k without prior warning is textbook insanity. That’s 24k in a month, almost the minimum wage of the country on data, bruh, this is hell.”