Last updated: 14 October 2026. Prices, validity periods and bonuses change often and differ by line and offer, so confirm in your MTN app or with official channels before you buy. The prices below were reported by tech outlets and are examples, not a full price list.
Data is now the biggest part of Nigeria’s telecom business. MTN and Airtel together earned about ₦2.4 trillion from data services in the first half of 2026, and MTN reported 55.7 million active data subscribers using an average of 14.8GB each per month, up 15.2% year on year. What does that data cost, and how can you spend less?
What changed in 2025
In January 2025 the Nigerian Communications Commission approved a 50% increase in telecom tariffs, the first adjustment in more than a decade, after operators argued that inflation, fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluation had made existing rates unsustainable. Before the hike, call rates were ₦11 a minute, SMS ₦4 and 1GB of data about ₦287.50. MTN then changed its price list in stages, and not every plan rose by 50%. For example:
- A 1.5GB monthly plan at ₦1,000 was replaced by 1.8GB at ₦1,500.
- A 15GB plan rose from ₦4,500 to ₦6,500, and a 20GB plan from ₦5,500 to ₦7,500.
- MTN’s 15GB weekly plan was raised from ₦2,000 to ₦6,000, a 200% jump, which provoked such an outcry that MTN apologised and reversed it to NCC-approved rates.
The consumer group NATCOMS opposed the hike, and the FCCPC demanded better network quality in return for higher prices.
Examples of MTN monthly plans in 2026
- 16.5GB for ₦6,500 with a 2GB YouTube night bonus, which one review put at roughly ₦351 per GB when the bonus is counted.
- 20GB for ₦7,500 with a 4GB night bonus.
- 25GB for ₦8,000 with a 4GB night bonus.
Reviews note that older bargains such as 50GB for ₦6,000 no longer exist, so comparing today’s prices with 2024 prices will only frustrate you. Check the MTN app for current plans, bonuses and validity, because they can change without much notice.
How to choose a plan
- Know your usage. Check how much you used last month, and how much was on Wi-Fi.
- Compare price per gigabyte, not just the headline size. Divide the price by the data you can actually use anytime, excluding night-only or app-only bonuses you will not use.
- Look at validity. Daily and weekly plans cost more per GB than monthly ones. Buy larger plans only if you will use them.
- Check the fine print: speed limits after a fair-use cap, bonus rules, rollover and auto-renewal settings.
- Compare networks and options. Airtel advertises rollover of up to 50% of unused data on select plans, and home fibre or satellite options may suit heavy users. Coverage matters as much as price, so ask neighbours which network works best where you live.
How to save data
- Use Wi-Fi for large downloads, app updates and uploads.
- Lower video quality. Watching YouTube at 1080p can use about 3GB an hour, while 480p uses under 0.7GB.
- Turn off auto-play, background refresh and automatic app updates on mobile data.
- Download music, maps and videos on Wi-Fi for offline use.
- Check app-by-app usage in your phone settings and restrict data-hungry apps.
- Turn off auto-renewal if you do not want plans to roll over automatically.
Complaints and consumer rights
If you are charged for a plan you did not buy, your data disappears too fast or the network is poor, complain first to MTN, keep records and then escalate to the NCC and FCCPC if needed. For wider context on prices, read our guides on the cost of living and internet penetration in Nigeria, and protect your line with our guide to SIM registration and replacement. Beware of “free data” scams. See internet scams.
How Prices Changed
After the NCC approved a 50% tariff increase in January 2025, MTN began adjusting its plans gradually. Examples reported at the time include the 1.5GB monthly plan at ₦1,000 being replaced by 1.8GB at ₦1,500, the 15GB plan rising from ₦4,500 to ₦6,500, the 20GB plan from ₦5,500 to ₦7,500 and the 75GB plan from ₦16,000 to ₦20,000. Text messages rose to ₦6. Some plans, including an older 50GB-for-₦6,000 bundle, no longer exist, and the closest current equivalent for many users is the 16.5GB monthly plan at ₦6,500. Prices change often, so confirm them in the MyMTN app or on *312# before you subscribe.
How to Choose a Plan
- Check your real usage in your phone’s data settings for a month. MTN’s average user consumed about 14.8GB a month in the first half of 2026, but yours may be far lower or higher.
- Compare cost per GB, not just the headline price, and note whether data expires or rolls over.
- Look at bonuses such as night streaming, social bundles and voice minutes, and ask whether you will use them.
- Match the plan length to your income: a monthly plan bought with a big lump sum may be cheaper per GB than weekly top-ups, but only if you will use it.
Rollover and Borrowing
- Unused data can roll over if you renew before the plan expires, so subscribe a day early instead of letting it lapse.
- You can borrow data on some plans through the USSD borrowing service, which charges a fee and a repayment, so use it only in emergencies.
- Use *312# or *904# to check balances and plans, and avoid links in SMS messages promising “free data”, which are often phishing.
Stop Data Draining Faster Than It Should
- Turn off auto-play in WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, and set video quality to low.
- Disable background data and automatic app updates on mobile networks, and update on Wi-Fi instead.
- Use data saver modes and offline maps and music downloads.
- Check which apps use the most data and uninstall the heaviest ones you do not need.
For wider context, see our guides on internet penetration, mobile technology and social networking apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did data prices rise?
The NCC approved a 50% tariff increase in January 2025, citing operators’ higher costs, and operators adjusted plans in different ways.
Which MTN plan is the best value?
It depends on your usage and the bonuses you can use. Compare the price per usable GB in the MTN app.
Is “free data” on social media real?
Usually not. Messages offering free data often lead to phishing or scams. Check offers only in official apps and channels.
Sources
- TechCabal: MTN Nigeria and SWIFT increase internet prices as the 50% tariff hike takes effect
- Techeconomy: MTN Nigeria hikes data prices by up to 200%
- Techeconomy: MTN Nigeria raises call and SMS rates
- Connecting Africa: MTN Nigeria hikes mobile tariffs
- Mobility: MTN 16.5GB for ₦6,500, is it worth it (2026)?
- Mobility: Best data plans in Nigeria (2026)
- The Guardian: Will the data boom deepen Nigeria’s digital agenda?
- Guardian: Telcos implement 50% hike as MTN increases data, SMS prices
- The Condia: MTN hikes data costs by 50%
