MTN begins 50% hike implementation as lawmakers call for suspension

MTN Nigeria has increased the price of its data subscriptions, as telecommunications operators begin the implementation of the 50% price increment recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The revised MTN data prices seen by Daily Trust show that MTN’s 1.8GB monthly plan now goes for N1,500, previously priced at N1,000. The 20GB plan […]

MTN Nigeria has increased the price of its data subscriptions, as telecommunications operators begin the implementation of the 50% price increment recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The revised MTN data prices seen by Daily Trust show that MTN’s 1.8GB monthly plan now goes for N1,500, previously priced at N1,000.

The 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, a rise from N4,500. Text message now N6.00.

Other mobile operators, comprising Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile, are yet to update their data prices as of the time of filling this report.

However, all the networks are now charging N6 for text message, instead of the previous N4.

Speaking at a forum two weeks ago, the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed that all the operators had sent their new tariff plans to the NCC and were awaiting approval.

In industry source disclosed to daily trust that the approvals were given on Monday.

The NCC had on January 20 announced that it had approved a 50% tariff adjustment for telecom operators, citing rising operational costs and the need to sustain the industry.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the impending hike in telecommunications tariffs until their service improves.

The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Obuku Offorji at the plenary on Tuesday.

Presenting the motion, the lawmaker recalled that the minister had, after a stakeholders meeting on Wednesday, 8th January, announced that telecommunications tariffs would soon be increased by the telecom operators in the country.

The minister had said consultations were ongoing as there had been agitations from some of these companies to increase tariffs to as high as 100 per cent.

The minister said it would not be a 100 per cent increase and that the NCC would approve the new tariffs and announce them in due course.

However, the lawmaker faulted the arguments of the telecommunications companies for the hike which include the cost of investment, better networks, increasing demand for digital services across sectors such as education, banking and healthcare.

Offorji said, “The telecommunications companies have been advocating for the hike for the last 11 years, according to the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). They argued that the telcos need cost-reflective tariffs in the face of adverse economic reality like a record inflation of 34.6 percent in November 2024 and losses resulting from foreign exchange fluctuations.

“The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has rejected the proposed increase in tariffs, describing it as insensitive and a further burden on consumers already grappling with economic hardship, and poor network service delivery.

“It is imperative that the telecommunications companies improve on their service delivery, which Nigerians have been yearning for, before embarking on the increase in their tariffs.

“The far-reaching effects of these price hikes will deepen financial struggles for the average Nigerian, threaten the country’s vision of leveraging technology to drive economic revival, exacerbate poverty and widen existing inequalities, hitting lower income families the hardest.

“Affordable connectivity is a must for progress in critical sectors like digital banking, education, healthcare, agriculture and e- governance. Informal sector workers who depend on affordable mobile data to access gig work opportunities may find it harder to stay connected.”