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.

This was the first decrease in data consumption since February 2024, due to user behaviour changes that the latest report from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals.

The telecommunications sector has fluctuated in data usage over recent months, having previously increased significantly. In earlier months of 2024, the usage figures for July recorded 829,584.47 terabytes, June saw 798,583.81 terabytes, and May accounted for 771,993.56 terabytes, a consistent upward trend before the recent dip.

Amid this decline in Nigeria’s internet usage, MTN Nigeria remains top in the market, with 78,097,681 active subscribers, which represents 50.50% of the total market share. 

Airtel follows with 53,748,688 subscribers, a 34.76% share, while Globacom and 9mobile hold 12.39% and 2.35% of the market, respectively, with subscriber numbers of 19,152,907 and 3,635,160.

The telecommunications sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2024 was 16.36%, an increase from 14.58% in the first quarter. 

Year-on-year comparisons reveal a rise from 16.06% in Q2 2023, as the industry stays resilient with its essential function in driving economic activities across various sectors.

Increased mobile and internet penetration expanded access to digital platforms, enabling higher participation in the digital economy. Continuous investments in infrastructure, including the expansion of network capabilities and the introduction of advanced technologies such as 5G, have further bolstered this sector.

As of September 2024, 5G adoption in Nigeria has risen to 2.19%, up from 2.12% in August. This steady growth reveals an increasing acceptance of 5G technology, which promises enhanced internet speeds and connectivity options.

However, the digital divide remains a big issue. The GSMA reported that by the end of 2023, approximately 120 million Nigerians lacked access to mobile internet, despite living within coverage areas. 

This gap disclosed that while many have the potential for connectivity, actual usage remains low due to various limitations. The high cost of entry-level internet-enabled devices is particularly noteworthy, often consuming a large portion of the average monthly income in low- and medium-income households.

On a global scale, the situation is similar, with 3.45 billion people, or 43% of the world’s population, still lacking access to mobile internet. Affordability and digital literacy continue to hinder mobile internet adoption, especially in developing regions like Nigeria. 

Addressing these challenges will ensure equitable access to digital resources for all Nigerians.