Frustration over mobile data in Nigeria spread over this weekend after Dr. Karl Toriola, MTN Nigeria CEO’s remarks at a ‘Data on Trial’ event, where he stated that truly unlimited data “does not exist anywhere in the world” unless customers pay a fortune.
“The issue of unlimited data on mobile network, it does not exist anywhere in the world, except you are paying $400 a month or whatever. There are high bundles and fair usage policies,” he said.
“On mobile networks, it does not really exist. There is a limit, because you can never build enough capacity for everyone to be on an unlimited bundle, and you think you will provide quality service that will be decent,” he continued.
Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) quickly pushed back, flooding the platform with screenshots of affordable unlimited plans from abroad while accusing local telcos of misleading advertising and unfair practices.
Toriola defended high pricing and rapid data depletion amid network challenges, urging users to manage consumption by disabling auto-backups and app updates.
He compared unlimited data to impossible “unlimited airline tickets,” arguing that networks cannot build enough capacity for everyone without compromising service quality.
“If you decide to give everybody in Nigeria unlimited local air tickets for N200,000 in a month, do you think the airline industry will survive? It won’t. It doesn’t work that way.” he said
“We cannot give unlimited as much as we desire it. We won’t be able to build the network that people would be able to use in what way whatsoever. That is the reality,” he continued.
The response was swift and sharp. Users posted evidence from the UK, US, India, and even other African markets showing genuine unlimited or high-volume plans at prices far more accessible relative to income.
One widely shared post highlighted India’s Jio offering unlimited data, calls, and SMS for roughly ₦3,500 monthly, alongside UK providers like Three and O2 where minimum-wage workers can afford unlimited access in hours.
Nigerians bared their minds on X:
@onu_slim: “Nigerians abroad immediately responded with screenshots,” one viral post noted. “Karl said nowhere in the world. Nigerians pulled out receipts.”
Fair Usage Policy: The Hidden Limit?
Complaints extend beyond the CEO’s comments. Many Nigerians argue that telcos, including MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile, advertise “unlimited” plans that throttle speeds after a certain usage threshold under a Fair Usage Policy (FUP), then deplete or expire quickly. Users report buying monthly bundles only for data to vanish in days, even with moderate use.
Recent X posts exemplify the anger: “MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile have been false advertising unlimited data for years… There is a word for selling something you know is false. It is not telecom. It is fraud,” a user with the handle, @JenisysPlay, wrote.
Users described subscribing to Airtel or MTN “unlimited” plans only to face throttling or rapid exhaustion, with @KesOsa85 calling a 20Mbps unlimited plan a “big scam.”
Viral videos captured citizens decrying extortion, with one woman noting ₦15,000 in data lasting mere days.
Telcos like @MTNNG responded in customer service threads by citing fair usage policies and usage-based depletion, but this has done little to quell public outrage.
Broader Context: High Costs, Low Satisfaction:
Nigeria’s data prices sit below the global average per gigabyte in absolute terms, yet they consume a large share of low incomes. Consumers frequently lament unexplained depletion, even with data off or on Wi-Fi in some anecdotal reports.
One of the critics, @olajiire101, points to the lack of regulatory teeth from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), with calls for fines, sanctions, or compensation.
Some users noted telcos once offered more generous unlimited options that were later curtailed.
MTN and others invest heavily in infrastructure, but public trust remains low. Fibre options like MTN FibreX or competitors offer true unlimited without heavy throttling for those who can afford them, highlighting a digital divide.
The conversation trended with hashtags and direct tags to telcos. Posts ranged from humorous receipts to outright calls for boycotts and sackings.
One user, @JenisysPlay summed it up: “Unlimited = limited… The only thing truly unlimited is their audacity.”
As Nigerians demand transparency, clearer advertising, and better value, the telcos face a growing “trial” not just in events, but in the court of public opinion.
Whether this leads to policy changes, stricter NCC oversight, or continued status quo remains to be seen, but the receipts from home and abroad have made one thing clear: Nigerians are no longer willing to accept “unlimited” as marketing spin.
[This story is based on real-time trends and user reports on X as of June 8, 2026].
