Nigeria’s Data Consumption Drops for Second Consecutive Month Amid Tariff Hikes
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has recorded a second consecutive month of declining data consumption, as steep tariff increases and economic pressures force consumers to cut back on internet usage.
According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), data usage fell to 983,283.43 terabytes in April from 995,876.10 terabytes in March.
The downturn follows a turbulent start to 2025, when a tariff hike sent data consumption plummeting from a record one million terabytes in January to 893,054.80 terabytes in February, with internet subscribers dropping by roughly one million. Despite a partial recovery in March, April’s decline to 141.99 million subscribers signals renewed strain.
Internet penetration ticked up slightly to 48.15% from 47.73%. The NCC also reported a surge in subscriber porting, with 6,789 customers switching networks in April, up 121% from 3,064 in March. MTN Nigeria led the market, gaining 3,960 subscribers, followed by Airtel with 1,860 and Globacom with 966.
Industry experts warn that affordability challenges could stall Nigeria’s nascent digital economy, with internet penetration still below 50%. The data noted 208,482 active subscribers for data services across licensed providers.
As the telecommunications sector navigates these challenges, consumers are likely to remain cautious about their data usage, and providers may need to adapt their strategies to meet the demands of a price-sensitive market.
