MTN Nigeria says it will launch a data usage transparency portal before the end of June to help subscribers better understand how their data is consumed and address concerns about rapid data depletion.
The announcement was made on Saturday in Lagos by MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobe Okigbo, during the company’s “Data on Trial” event, a public engagement aimed at addressing complaints about data usage and billing.
According to Okigbo, the portal will be integrated into MTN’s self service channels and mobile app, allowing customers to monitor and understand their data usage patterns.
“The portal will be ready before the end of the month,” he said.
“We want to test it with people like you to make sure that we’re presenting information that does not confuse but helps customers. I think it will be very useful, particularly for router users.”
The initiative comes amid complaints from subscribers who have questioned how quickly their data bundles are exhausted.
Okigbo also said MTN would open its data billing and network operations to public scrutiny as part of efforts to address concerns over alleged data depletion and strengthen customer confidence.
He said Nigerians would be given the opportunity to independently assess how data is consumed and billed on the network.
Drawing parallels with previous consumer complaints, Okigbo recalled that MTN had subjected its systems to regulatory scrutiny following concerns about unauthorised value added service subscriptions and deductions. According to him, the company suspended the affected services and introduced corrective measures that helped restore customer trust.
“We want Nigerians to tell us what is wrong, ask questions and help us identify issues so that we can collectively find solutions,” he said.
He added that trust remains important in the telecommunications industry and that customers are more likely to embrace digital services when they understand how charges are applied.
Okigbo said the public engagement would be streamed live to enable participation from consumers and stakeholders across the country.
Speaking at the event, MTN’s General Manager for Network Quality, Mike Ndukwe, rejected claims that telecom operators arbitrarily deduct customers’ data.
Ndukwe explained that data is consumed whenever users stream videos, browse websites, download files or run applications in the background.
He advised subscribers to manage their usage by reducing video quality settings, limiting background applications and monitoring data consuming activities on their devices.
According to him, data consumption is measured using globally recognised standards and verified billing systems. He added that MTN’s billing processes are regularly audited by the Nigerian Communications Commission and independent assessors.
Ndukwe further stated that the technologies and standards used by MTN are deployed in several regulated telecommunications markets around the world.
Also speaking, MTN’s General Manager for Network Services, Asura Mshelia, said network performance depends on several interconnected systems.
He explained that customer traffic passes through base stations, transmission links, switching centres and internet gateways before reaching online destinations.
According to Mshelia, network congestion, power outages, equipment failures and fibre cuts are among the major factors affecting service delivery.
He described vandalism as a major challenge, saying MTN has recorded hundreds of attacks on telecommunications infrastructure, including theft of generators, batteries and solar equipment.
Mshelia added that fibre cuts caused by road construction activities, sabotage and other illegal acts frequently disrupt services and affect large numbers of subscribers.
He urged Nigerians to help protect telecommunications infrastructure, noting that attacks on network facilities often lead to widespread service disruptions.
MTN Nigeria chief executive officer Karl Toriola said mobile data in Nigeria remains among the cheapest in the world.
“Influencers and critics should look at the price at which we sell data bundles. Compare it with Kenya, Congo and other countries around the world, and you will find that data in Nigeria is one of the four cheapest globally. Ghana is also very cheap, I acknowledge that,” he said.
Toriola also defended telecom operators against allegations of unexplained data depletion, saying even senior telecommunications executives sometimes experience unexpected data consumption caused by automated device settings.
He disclosed that MTN invested N900 billion in network expansion in 2025 and plans to spend N1 trillion on infrastructure development in 2026.
According to him, no network operator can guarantee uninterrupted service, particularly in Nigeria where operators contend with infrastructure vandalism, theft, regulatory challenges and other environmental constraints.
Toriola called on Nigerians to support efforts to protect telecommunications infrastructure, noting that road construction activities by third parties frequently damage fibre optic cables and disconnect thousands of subscribers.
The “Data on Trial” initiative was organised as a public inquiry into data consumption and billing practices following growing consumer complaints. MTN said the exercise was designed to allow customers, technology experts and industry stakeholders to examine how mobile data is measured, consumed and charged on its network.
Nigeria’s internet usage has continued to grow in recent years, with mobile networks accounting for the vast majority of internet access across the country, making data transparency and consumer trust increasingly important issues for operators and subscribers alike.
