Photo Credit: Getty Images
Nigerians are expressing outrage after major phone networks, including MTN and Airtel, significantly increased mobile data prices. The increases, which saw MTN triple the cost of one of its popular weekly offers, come despite the telecoms regulator capping price hikes at 50% three weeks ago. The phone companies cite rising costs as the reason for seeking higher revenue.
Nigerians have been living through a long cost-of-living crisis with inflation rates not seen for three decades. Any increase in prices adds to the struggle for many to make ends meet.
In response to customer complaints, MTN said on X that the price adjustment was necessary to serve subscribers better.
"We apologize for any inconvenience caused,” the company added.
Subscribers only realised what had happened when they went to buy data over the past few hours.
Many comments on social media called out the increase saying that it could cut off a lot of people at a time when the economy is in turmoil.
One target for criticism has been the rise in MTN's 15GB weekly bundle from 2,000 naira ($1.33; £1.08) to 6,000 naira ($3.99).
"What sort of outrageous increase is that?... Just making sure the masses suffer more," one commenter on X said.
Subscribers are also complaining that MTN's 1GB bundle has more than doubled in price and Airtel has tripled the cost of a similar offer.
People who use Globacom - the third largest network - say they have not been affected by increases.
The Nigeria Communications Commission, which regulates the telecom companies, is yet to react to the price rises which in some cases appear to exceed the cap that it had recommended.
Nigeria is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation. A rise in inflation caused by the war in Ukraine was exacerbated when in 2023 President Bola Tinubu's government dropped the fuel subsidy.
