Across Nigeria and other African markets where MTN is a dominant telecom provider, customer dissatisfaction over data plans has grown increasingly vocal – particularly between 2023 and 2026. From sudden price hikes to rapid data depletion and the removal of beloved bundles, users have taken to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to vent frustrations, organize critiques and even switch providers – reflecting broader anxieties about affordability, transparency and digital access.
Sudden Price Hikes and Bundle Changes Spark Outrage
At the centre of dissent was a series of data price increases that many subscribers view as arbitrary and economically burdensome. In early 2025, MTN Nigeria implemented tariff adjustments following approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), but the way the changes applied to subscriber plans caused disproportionate frustration. For example, a popular 15 GB weekly bundle that previously cost around ₦2,000 was suddenly repriced to ₦6,000, representing a 200 % increase for many users — well above the 50 % cap ostensibly approved by regulators.
The backlash was swift. On X users called the change “exploitative” and questioned how such a price restructuring could occur without adequate public communication. One critic highlighted that the NCC cap should have limited increases to around ₦3,000 ( not ₦6,000) underscoring a perceived gap between regulatory intent and corporate action.
In response to the uproar, MTN Nigeria publicly apologised for the pricing shock, describing the situation candidly as a mistake and using informal language to acknowledge customer frustration — a rare tone from a major telco. Still, many subscribers saw the apology as insufficient if it did not translate into more affordable or stable plans.
Disappearing Plans and Perceived “Obsolescence”
Subscribers’ anger intensified not only over price increases but also over the disappearance of data plans they could once afford. Plans such as the “N2,000 for 15 GB” bundle or the older 5 GB weekly bundles that cost ₦1,500 were either removed or replaced with costlier alternatives, leaving many users feeling like affordable options were systematically phased out as soon as customers could manage them.
Reddit threads from 2025 reflect this sentiment clearly. One user noted that after MTN removed older, lower-priced plans, finding a cost-effective substitute became difficult. Many subscribers lamented that shrinking choices and rising costs forced them to consider rival networks or adopt restrictive browsing habits.
This pattern ( where once-viable plans vanish or become less competitive ) feeds into a common perception among dissenters that MTN adjusts its offerings in a way that seemingly targets anyone who can afford more premium bundles, leaving lower-cost options either degraded or discontinued.
Fast Depletion and Network Experience Complaints
Complaints extended beyond pricing. Many users reported data depleting faster than expected, with bundles running out even during periods of minimal use. According to reports captured on social media, some subscribers found their data expended within days — sometimes even overnight — despite little active usage.
In the face of these concerns, MTN Nigeria explained that data depletion depends on a variety of factors, including how the device and apps operate, and encouraged users to check usage details via their app. However, for many customers, this technical explanation did little to allay the feeling that the data simply “vanished” inexplicably.
These experiences were echoed on platforms like Reddit, where users in Nigeria and neighbouring countries reported similar disappearance of data and irregular billing concerns — sometimes speculating that systems were deliberately designed in ways that benefit the operator more than the subscriber.
Social Media Voices and Public Mobilisation
Platform reactions provide a vivid snapshot of user sentiment:
- On X, hashtags such as #MTNDataHike, #MTNripoff and #SwitchToOtherNetworks trended as frustrated users encouraged each other to consider Airtel, Globacom or 9mobile alternatives. Some even called for boycotts or collective switching to pressure MTN into reverting plans.
- Facebook groups and pages dedicated to telecom deals and consumer rights were filled with posts comparing old and new data plans, troubleshooting high depletion rates, and urging regulatory oversight.
- Reddit threads from late 2024 through 2025 documented debates on everything from perceived price gouging to technical issues and calls for regulatory intervention — signifying that discontent isn’t isolated to Nigeria alone but resonates in other MTN markets.
Many users framed the dispute not simply as a pricing issue, but as a fairness and transparency crisis — especially when plans that once enabled students, small businesses and remote workers to stay connected were either altered or priced beyond reach.
Economic Context and Telecom Sustainability
Analysts note that broader economic pressures — including currency devaluation and inflation — have impacted telecom companies’ operating costs, compelling tariff adjustments. Reuters reporting indicates that MTN Nigeria’s profitability was hammered by currency issues and rising costs, which partly underlie pricing decisions even as revenue grew in constant currency terms.
From MTN’s perspective, adjusting data plans aligns with sustainability efforts amid economic headwinds. However, subscribers’ perception is shaped less by corporate accounting and more by immediate affordability: many feel digital access is becoming a luxury rather than a baseline utility — a sentiment that fuels online dissent.
Regulatory and Consumer Protection Engagement
The intense backlash also sparked calls for regulatory action. Some lawmakers urged the government to halt impending tariff hikes and review pricing structures, arguing that telecom access should remain affordable and transparent.
Consumer rights advocates argue for stronger oversight on price adjustments, clearer communication from operators, and mechanisms that protect average subscribers from sudden, uncommunicated changes.
Conclusion: A Strained Relationship Between MTN and Its Users
The public outcry against MTN’s data pricing and plan changes reflects a larger consumer frustration with affordability, transparency, and perceived corporate prioritisation of revenue over subscriber welfare. Social media reactions over the past few years — from fast depletion complaints to resentment over discontinued plans — reveal a growing perception that data access is progressively being priced out of reach for many, particularly young people, students and remote workers.
Whether MTN and regulators respond with improved pricing frameworks, clearer communication, or new plan options remains to be seen. But for now, the dissent captured online underscores how telecom policy intersects with everyday life, economic pressures, and public trust in digital services.