Driven by a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) following a clean billing audit, the goal is to show users exactly how background app activities, automatic updates, and video streaming drain their balances as data consumption across the country skyrockets.

Operators have already started sending customers daily reports showing how much data they used the previous day.

An official at one of the telecom companies in Nigeria said the data depletion issue has become a major concern across the industry.

“An average subscriber believes their service provider steals their data once their data is exhausted before time or depletes faster than they expected, which is not true.

“Over the years, we have tried to enlighten the subscribers on factors that could lead to their data being depleted fast, which include smartphone functionality, among others.

“And now, we are looking at tools that could show the subscribers not just what they have used, but also how they have used it to further promote transparency,” the source said.

He added that operators are also stepping up public awareness campaigns to help subscribers understand why data may finish faster than expected.

The renewed drive for transparency comes as data usage across Nigeria gets more expensive.

Nigerians consumed more than four billion gigabytes of data in the first quarter of 2026, driven by heavy use of video streaming platforms, social media, fintech services and remote work tools.

That growth has also increased pressure on telecom infrastructure, with networks in many parts of the country now struggling during peak hours, leaving subscribers with slower internet speeds and unstable connections.

Many users often interpret those issues as abnormal data depletion.

Telecom operators are also dealing with worsening infrastructure problems. Industry data showed there were 19,384 fibre cuts in 2025, while another 5,934 incidents were recorded in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

At the same time, only about 25% of planned 4G expansion projects for 2026 have been completed, leaving networks overstretched as internet demand grows.

In December 2024, the NCC said it carried out a billing audit across major mobile networks after repeated complaints from subscribers. According to the regulator, the audit did not uncover any major issue linked to unfair data deductions.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the exercise was completed in the third quarter of 2024 using independent auditors.

“We had a hypothesis that it isn’t true that there is a data depletion issue in the industry. It could be perception.

“So the first thing we did was that we immediately conducted a billing audit on the systems of the major MNOs, using reputable auditors. That exercise was completed in Q3 of this year (2024) and surprisingly, we didn’t find any major issues,” he said.

The NCC has repeatedly warned that several smartphone features and apps consume data without users actively using them. According to the commission, background app activity, cloud syncing, automatic updates and location services are some of the biggest causes of unexpected data usage.

The regulator advised subscribers to monitor their usage regularly, turn off background data access for selected apps and disable automatic updates where necessary.

It also recommended using Wi-Fi whenever possible and installing ad blockers to reduce unwanted data consumption from online advertisements.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is reviewing its 26-year-old telecom policy as the government looks to address growing pressure on the sector.

Proposed reforms include stronger consumer protection rules, new tariff structures, wider 5G deployment and tougher measures to protect telecom infrastructure from vandalism and fibre cuts.

Authorities say the reforms are aimed at improving digital access, strengthening cybersecurity and encouraging long-term investment in the country’s telecom industry, ultimately reducing data depletion across Nigeria.

The company is prioritising core operations in Nigeria, South Africa, and Brazil, while exiting less profitable markets through major asset sales.

The group spent $89.9 million on new tower projects in H1, a 15.8% drop from the $106.8 million invested a year earlier. The slowdown was felt across both quarters: Q1 capital expenditure fell 17.8% to $43.6 million, and Q2 slipped 13.8% to $46.3 million. 

Cuts were most pronounced in Latin America, where new site builds and fibre rollouts were scaled back, while Nigeria saw investment fall by 5.5% in Q1 and 10.4% in Q2 due to reduced maintenance, fibre deployment, and site upgrades.

This reallocation is closely tied to a deliberate reshaping of IHS’s portfolio. In December 2024, the company sold 1,672 towers in Kuwait, and in May 2025 it announced the $274.5 million sale of its Rwanda operations—including 1,465 sites—to Paradigm Tower Ventures at a valuation multiple of 8.3x adjusted EBITDA, well above the group’s average. 

These divestments are intended to streamline operations and focus on markets offering long-term tenancy agreements and stronger co-location potential.

Debt reduction has become a clear priority. Proceeds from disposals have been channelled into paying down high-interest loans in Nigeria and Brazil, cutting the net leverage ratio from 3.9x in 2024 to 3.4x in Q1 2025. Full-year capex guidance has also been revised down to $240–$270 million from $260–$290 million. 

Nigeria’s “Project Green,” launched in 2022 to cut diesel dependence through solar deployment, battery storage integration, and improved grid connectivity, has reduced upgrade requirements and is projected to generate $77 million in annual free cash flow savings by year-end.

However, the biggest operational pressure has come from tenant churn in Nigeria. MTN Nigeria, the company’s largest client, renewed 13,500 tenancies through to 2032 but opted not to extend 1,050 sites, awarding those to American Tower Corporation. 

This resulted in a net loss of 420 tenants in Q1 and 688 by Q2 on a year-on-year basis. Despite the setback, IHS Towers maintained a colocation rate of 1.52x in Nigeria—on par with emerging market norms—and has sought to backfill churned sites with other customers.

MTN’s decision shows a push to diversify its infrastructure partners and manage cost and operational risk. Its contracts with both IHS and ATC include clauses linking pricing to inflation and diesel costs, alongside mixed naira-dollar payment structures to mitigate currency volatility.

Financially, the company’s performance has been resilient. H1 revenue reached $872.9 million, with Q1 rising 5.2% year-on-year to $439.6 million on the back of 25.6% organic growth, while Q2 slipped marginally by 0.5% to $433.3 million but still beat market expectations. 

Adjusted EBITDA stood at $252.6 million in Q1 and $248.5 million in Q2, while net income rose to $30.7 million and $32.3 million, reversing losses recorded last year. Operating cash flow jumped 68.1% to $254.8 million.

Commenting on the results, Sam Darwish, CEO of IHS Towers, said: “Our improved outlook reflects what we believe are the benefits of the solid commercial progress we have made as well as our strong focus on financial discipline, which is delivering sustained improvements in our profitability and cash flow generation.”

IHS expects 5G rollouts to drive further lease amendments, new site demand, and higher colocation rates across Africa. 

With the naira recording only a 0.3% devaluation in Q2, management is optimistic that foreign exchange conditions will support its full-year revenue guidance. The challenge for H2 will be balancing reduced investment with maintaining growth momentum in its largest and most competitive markets.

The outgone year was marked with some remarkable incidences: President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Electoral Act 2022, the CBN issued a string of controversial announcements, the Nigerian government plans to wean off the subsidy regime starting next year, and 5G made it to Nigeria, however, rollouts have been slow.

These and many more are the highlights that shaped 2022, but in this article, we will be focusing on major events that have been projected to shape the country come 2023.

General Elections

The upcoming general election in February 2023 will be Nigeria’s seventh democratic election. It has been recognized as one of the most significant electoral events in the country’s history of elections as there are more candidates contesting for the presidential seat with more Nigerians becoming politically aware and involved.

And in a historic move, Nigeria will be transmitting its election results electronically for the first time in the upcoming elections, as is contained in the Electoral Act 2022 that promises of a credible election.

Political analysts have praised the signing of the Act, as it foretells of a more transparent electoral system, to allow for the smooth running of the country’s democratic processes. The outcome of the elections will in no small measure determine the extent of economic growth of the country.

CBN’s Domestic Card

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had announced plans to develop a National domestic card scheme which it expects to take off in January 2023. Among its reasons for the card scheme launch, the CBN listed financial inclusion, consumers’ data sovereignty and Enabling banks offer differentiated products and services.

The big question, however, is, does the CBN need to launch a domestic card to achieve these? Currently in Nigeria, there are existing local and international card schemes that are meeting these needs already. These card schemes notably Mastercard, Visa, Verve cards are enabling banks to offer enough differentiated products and services among other card payment benefits.

The Verve card particularly is a Nigerian home-grown domestic card scheme and one of Africa’s most successful indigenous payments cards. It has grown its value proposition and market base to be accepted in over 180 countries and issued in countries across Africa, providing secure and ubiquitous payment options.

Not only are these card schemes delivering on the goals of the proposed domestic card scheme, telecommunication operators, Payment Service Banks (PSBs), Fintechs, Commercial banks, and Microfinance banks are playing in this space to create a more financially inclusive, data secure and product differentiated payment ecosystem.

Another question the CBN will be forced to answer in the new year while launching its domestic card is the ethical question of fairness. Will the CBN be playing fair now that the regulator has also become a player? There has been widespread concern over the ethical disposition of this move.

Experts believe the CBN will want to coerce the banks and even Nigerians (cardholders) to subscribe to the government-owned card.

CBN’s entry into the card business; experts project it will effectively crowd out competition and directly compete with homegrown card as well as other international card companies. They further suggest that instead of playing in the field, the apex bank should remain in its role as a regulator while providing institutional support for existing players, ensuring that they meet the set standards for the benefit of the domestic economy.  2023 will decide.

Slow Economic Growth

The World Bank adjusted its projection for Nigeria’s economic growth for 2023 from 3.3 percent to 3.2 percent. The global financial institution noted that the slow growth will be propped by an increase in private consumption, which will be driven by subsiding inflationary pressures.

2022 saw Nigeria record its highest inflation figure since 2005 at 21.15 percent. This inflation was majorly instigated by; disruptions of food distribution network resulting from insecurity, high importation costs, currency depreciation, and a bump in the cost of production.

As the new year unveils, keen expectations will be for the government through the CBN, to be more intentional about its fiscal and monetary policies and proffer business friendly initiatives that will help tackle the challenges affecting macroeconomic growth.

5G Rollout

It’s the era of the 5th generation mobile network which sets to drive faster and enhanced communication. As of June 2022, about 70 countries have deployed the 5G technology, with projections that more users will be onboarded. Earlier last year, Nigerians joined the list of 5G users after an auction process was announced by the National Communication Commission (NCC) for the 3.5GHz 5G spectrum.

With this, the NCC will enable licensed operators with existing infrastructure to provide 5G services to Nigerians, while providing a regulatory framework that will guide these providers of the 5G network on how to protect users.

Although the rollout is not as extensive yet, experts believe the technology holds a trove of benefits for Nigerians, both individuals and businesses.

It is expected that the adoption of this technology will increase opportunities and throw up new businesses with the evolution of blockchain in 2023, which will determine just how much work needs to be done to ensure that advanced technologies are accessible to more Nigerians.

2023, as with any election year, holds a lot of uncertainties, but the hope is that the theme of collaboration endures. Collaboration between the government and private sector players, and collaboration between the government and the citizens to create a robust and efficient economy.

Growth in the Oil Sector

As Europe completely wane itself off the Russian energy and the promises the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) holds, Nigeria poses as a more attractive destination for foreign direct investment for oil and gas.

The government has recently redesigned its security strategy along the Niger-Delta corridor to curb installation vandalization and oil theft. The new strategy of engaging the militants in addition to the military operations in the Niger-Delta is expected to increase the daily oil production from 1.22m b/d towards the OPEC stipulated 1.7m b/d.

The government has also speculated it will be removing oil subsidy from its spending in the new year.

Other growth indicators in the oil sector include the recent commercialisation of the government-owned National Petroleum Company-NNPC Ltd which will further liberalise the sector.

The completed Dangote Refinery with its 650,000 b/d is expected to meet Nigeria’s fuel requirement, provided domestic oil prices are cost-effective and fuel imports are lowered.

With all these efficient components brought together; expected foreign investment, increased security, increased daily oil production, removal of oil subsidy and the take-off of the Dangote refinery- the oil sector is going to be a major contributor to the economy’s balance of payment.

The new year indeed looks viable, supposition is that the key players; government, businesses and individuals will take their roles assiduously and deliberately work towards making the new year a productive and prosperous one for all.