Why Nigerians’ data finishes fast — MTN

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us Why Nigerians’ data finishes fast — MTN News October 27, 2026 8:56 am The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola.

“We’re not stealing your data. However, we completely understand how it feels, especially right now, where every amount counts. But the honest answer is that data is not taken without an action, either your action or your phone,” he said.

Ndukwe explained that applications such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp consume varying amounts of data depending on video resolution, automatic playback and the frequency of downloads.

According to him, a 15-second TikTok video could consume between two and 20 megabytes, depending on its quality, while high-definition streaming requires substantially more data than standard-definition viewing.

He said WhatsApp messages generally consume minimal data, but status updates, videos, group messages and automatic media downloads could exhaust subscriptions faster than users anticipated.

“If your WhatsApp is set on auto-download, straight away it hits your data bundle. And that is where you can optimise some of your settings,” Ndukwe noted.

He disclosed that WhatsApp had approximately 45 million users in Nigeria, while TikTok ranked among the platforms generating substantial data traffic.

Ndukwe also cited figures indicating that data consumption increased by approximately 43 per cent year-on-year.

Also speaking, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, David Ogunsola, explained that differences between data recorded on smartphones and telecommunications networks could arise from measurement methods, background traffic and the timing of data sessions.

“The data that you measure on your devices is slightly different from what traverses over the network and what’s on the charge,” he said.

Ogunsola stated that variations in measurement and rounding could produce differences ranging from two per cent to approximately 12 per cent in some circumstances.

He added that network technology primarily determined connection speed, while video quality and application settings influenced the volume of data consumed.

“The network type that you are on, whether it’s 3G or 4G, just like Mike also explained earlier, would determine not how much data you use, but how fast you’re able to do what it is that you want to do,” he explained.

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, defended the cost of providing internet services, citing electricity expenses and the responsibility of powering and maintaining telecommunications sites.

“Please understand that this country, as well as a few other African countries, we are providing power and transportation to all of our sites,” he said.

Toriola maintained that Nigerian operators deployed equipment comparable to that used in Europe and the United States but faced higher operating costs, particularly for electricity.

The Northwest Sales Manager of Xiaomi Nigeria, Kevin Kojode, similarly attributed unexpected data depletion to automatic software updates, cloud synchronisation, background applications and unrestricted hotspot connections.

“Today, users don’t just go online, they stay online,” Kojode said.

Using an illustrative one-gigabyte subscription, he explained how background updates, cloud backups and operating-system activities could consume data without users deliberately initiating downloads.

Kojode also highlighted smartphone features that allow users to monitor consumption and limit data sharing, arguing that better understanding of device settings could help Nigerians manage their subscriptions more effectively.

Sami Tunji is a Senior Business Correspondent at Punch Newspapers with about five years of experience in data-driven reporting. He covers finance, ICT, and broader macroeconomic issues, combining analytical insight with clear storytelling. Sami’s work reflects strong editorial judgment, professional development, and a commitment to accurate and informative business journalism.

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