Statistics released by the NCC show internet users dropped from 142.16 million in January to 141.25 million in February, with only a partial rebound to 142.05 million in March.

That dip in users came alongside a plunge in data consumption. Monthly usage fell by 12%, down from January’s all-time high of one exabyte to 893.06 petabytes in February. 

Though it climbed to 995.88 petabytes in March, that recovery didn’t undo the damage. Nigerians were rationing data. Prices had simply gone too high.

Despite that pullback, telecom operators somehow added 3.39 million new telephone lines between January and March. This brought the total number of active lines to 172.71 million and lifted teledensity to 79.67%. So while people may be speaking more, they are browsing less.

At the top of the pile, MTN Nigeria continues to thrive. With 75.62 million internet subscribers and 90.5 million active lines, MTN now commands over half of the mobile market. 

Airtel seconds with 58.3 million lines, Globacom has 20.7 million, and 9mobile has just 2.9 million.

Nowhere is this collapse more apparent than at 9mobile. In just two months, February and March 2025, the operator lost 318,825 subscribers. It now holds just 1.72% of the market. 

This comes as no surprise to those who have watched the company deteriorate. Customers continue to complain about poor signal, slow internet speeds, and frequent network failures. Internal investments have stalled, and retention efforts have fizzled.

Behind closed doors, 9mobile has been counting on a national roaming agreement with MTN to fix its problems. The deal would allow it to tap into MTN’s vast infrastructure, boosting its network reach and improving service quality. 

The partnership has been technically structured and commercially agreed. But it remains stuck at the regulatory level.

The NCC, which must approve the deal, is still conducting reviews. These include assessing the impact on competition, evaluating spectrum-sharing terms, and ensuring alignment with national broadband goals. The review timeline usually spans up to 12 weeks, but every delay eats into 9mobile’s relevance.

According to one industry executive familiar with the matter, “The NCC is delaying because it knows a deal gives the other party (MTN Nigeria) the upper hand. They know what it means for MTN to get its hands on 9mobile’s spectrum.”

This spectrum includes the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands—valuable assets in an industry where infrastructure is everything. If MTN absorbs them, it could widen the already gaping divide between itself and every other operator.

Porting data reveals where the trust lies. Between February and March, MTN gained 4,855 new users who migrated from rival networks. In contrast, 9mobile saw 5,809 users leave, and only three joined its network during that period. The bleeding is constant. And without the roaming deal, there’s no bandage in sight.

It wasn’t always like this. When 9mobile operated as Etisalat Nigeria in 2015, it had over 23 million subscribers. Today, it has less than three million. That’s a 90% collapse in less than a decade. And yet, the company still hasn’t hit bottom.

The NCC hasn’t commented publicly on the status of the roaming application. MTN, too, has remained silent. But from inside the industry, the stakes are understood. 

Until the NCC makes a call, 9mobile remains in limbo. Every day without regulatory approval is another day closer to losing customers, with internet users sliding backwards. 

With China hit by a 54% levy, the company could see iPhone prices rise by up to 40% if the tariffs remain in place.

For a company that sells over 220 million iPhones annually, this is no small problem. Most of its production is in China, despite initial trials to move some assembly to Vietnam and India—both of which have been slapped with their own hefty tariffs of 46% and 26%, respectively. Apple must now decide whether to absorb the extra costs or pass them directly to consumers.

Per Reuters, the base model iPhone 16, currently priced at $799, could shoot up to $1,142, according to analysts at Rosenblatt Securities.

The high-end iPhone 16 Pro Max, which now sells for $1,599, may climb to nearly $2,300 if the full tariff impact is transferred to buyers. Even the supposedly affordable iPhone 16e, introduced at $599, could end up costing around $856.

The market wasted no time in responding. Apple’s stock tumbled 9.3% on Thursday, its worst single-day drop since March 2020. Investors are clearly nervous, and for good reason. 

The combination of high costs, slowing iPhone sales, and stiff competition from Samsung could spell serious issues for the tech giant.

“This whole China tariff thing is playing out right now completely contrary to our expectation that American icon Apple would be kid-gloved, like last time,” said Barton Crockett, an analyst at Rosenblatt Securities.

Apple has historically relied on its brand loyalty and premium status to justify high prices. But in a market already showing signs of fatigue, a 40% price hike might be too much for even its most devoted customers.

Many buyers spread their payments over two or three years through carrier contracts, but a steep increase could still deter new purchases. More worryingly, Apple’s latest feature upgrades—including its AI-driven Apple Intelligence—haven’t been compelling enough to drive an upgrade frenzy.

Even if Apple tries to soften the blow, analysts like Angelo Zino from CFRA Research are sceptical. “We expect Apple to hold off on any major increases on phones until this fall when its iPhone 17 is set to launch, as it is typically how it handles planned price hikes,” he said.

Trump’s tariff strategy is nothing new. During his first term, he slapped import duties on Chinese goods, aiming to force American companies to shift manufacturing back to the U.S. or nearby countries like Mexico. At the time, Apple managed to secure exemptions. This time, those lifelines haven’t been granted.

If the tariffs remain in place, Apple would need to raise iPhone prices by an average of 30% just to offset the increased import costs, according to Counterpoint Research co-founder Neil Shah. The ripple effect could hit the entire consumer electronics sector, as suppliers and retailers adjust their pricing strategies.

The consequences of Trump’s trade issues go far beyond Apple. The European Union, already facing 20% tariffs on its exports to the U.S., is preparing to respond. China has vowed retaliation against Trump’s 54% levies, and other major trading partners, including Japan, South Korea, and India, are weighing their next moves.

The financial markets are in turmoil. The Dow plunged nearly 4%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq suffered a 6% drop—its worst day since the early pandemic days of 2020. Apple isn’t alone in feeling the heat. Nike’s shares tanked by 14%, and other companies heavily dependent on overseas manufacturing also took a hit.

For Apple, the next few months will be sensitive. If it absorbs the costs, its profit margins will shrink. If it passes them on, sales may nosedive. Either way, the company faces one of its biggest challenges in years.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the White House. Trump insists these tariffs are a way to negotiate better trade deals. But with a global recession looming, experts warn that this aggressive approach could backfire.

“This could blow up Apple, potentially costing the company up to $40 billion,” warned Crockett.