A FEW months after the NCC gave the green light for a 50% increase in telecom tariffs, complaints have surged from users across Nigeria, who say data costs more, works less effectively, and drains at an alarming rate. News Point Nigeria explores the situation.
The tariff adjustment, announced by NCC spokesman Reuben Muoka in a statement, was justified as a necessary step to bridge the gap between rising operational costs and static rates that had remained unchanged since 2013.
While the regulator said the increase was aimed at sustaining service delivery and supporting infrastructure investment, many Nigerians say they now pay more but receive far less value for their money.
“It’s like the data finishes twice as fast as before. I can’t even stream or download the way I used to,” lamented Nuruddeen Olawiwo, a business centre owner in Ekiti. “Before, 50GB lasted a week with extra left. Now, even 175GB barely lasts till weekend.”
From Lagos to Kaduna, Benue to Enugu, subscribers narrate similar experiences:
Mary Ann Ike, a fashion magazine editor, joked that she sometimes wonders if her Wi-Fi has been hacked, “but seriously, if it’s the telecom companies doing this, the government must intervene.”
Auwalu Marke, who runs a phone accessories and POS business in Kaduna, said he has switched to smaller independent data resellers because “the big telecoms have definitely tampered with their data.”
Dr. Chioma Philips, a lecturer in Imo, said: “My anger is not just about the expensive, useless data we buy, but also those annoying messages that keep popping up on our phones about caller tunes. You can’t even exit them unless you choose one, it’s like forcing Nigerians to subscribe.”
Syvian Onah, a hotel manager in Enugu, reported that weekend guest traffic no longer matches data usage. “we now spend twice as much on data for fewer guests.”
Ene Achigbo, a university student in Benue, said she now keeps her data off most of the day, buying three times the amount she did a few months ago just to stay connected.
Several experts who spoke to News Point Nigeria believe the suspicions may be valid.
Mas’ud Abdullah, a UK-based data scientist, explained that telecom companies could technically throttle speeds or manipulate bandwidth allocation to force faster consumption.
“If you notice a consistent drop in data value over the same usage pattern, it’s a sign of tampering.”
Rotimi Ade Jones, CEO of Jonas Techs in Lagos, went further: “It’s an established fact that ISPs have altered the bandwidth allocation. Tasks that required 300GB now need 500GB or more. This is deliberate, and it directly impacts speed and reliability.”
An NCC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that while the Commission has the technical capacity to investigate, it cannot act without a formal complaint or a court order.
“We can’t just wake up and interrogate the data usage records of telecom operators,” the official said. “However, yes, the technology and expertise to verify such claims exist, and we work with global experts on such issues.”
This stance drew criticism from subscribers like Fidelis Luka, a civil servant, who argued that the regulator does not need formal petitions to protect consumers.
“They use data too. They can see what is happening. Everyone knows we are being cheated.”
The complaints come at a time when MTN Nigeria reportedly posted record profits, raising suspicions among consumers that the price hike, combined with possible data manipulation is fuelling telecom operators’ bottom lines at the expense of the public.
While the NCC maintains that the tariff increase will ultimately improve service quality, the lived experiences of millions of Nigerians suggest otherwise.
Without a formal investigation, the public may have to rely on independent watchdogs, advocacy groups, or legal action to challenge the alleged practices.
For now, subscribers continue to count their gigabytes and their losses.