Residents across Nigeria, especially in the northern region, have voiced intense frustration following the recent surge in mobile data and call rates.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently approved a 50% increase in telecom charges, sparking nationwide backlash amid growing economic hardship.
This tariff hike has drawn widespread criticism, particularly from individuals and small businesses in the North who rely heavily on affordable data services for their livelihoods.
For Kano-based food vendor and single mother, Zainab Idris, the impact is deeply personal. Every transaction she handles—from customer orders to payments—is managed through mobile data. But since the NCC-backed hike, maintaining internet access has become an uphill battle.
“I depend on my phone for business and banking. Now, I pay double for less internet access,” she lamented. “We’re being penalized simply for staying connected.”
Zainab’s reality highlights a broader national challenge. The NCC’s decision, which took effect in January 2025, was reportedly influenced by telecom companies grappling with inflation, surging diesel prices, and volatile foreign exchange rates.
However, millions of Nigerians now face a more burdensome cost of digital access.
Critics argue that under the current leadership, the NCC appears more aligned with corporate interests than those of everyday Nigerians. Students, petty traders, office workers, and rural entrepreneurs all share the brunt of this abrupt policy shift.
Whereas 1GB of data previously cost around ₦300, the new price now surpasses ₦500. This leap is especially crushing in a nation where over 60% of the population lives in multidimensional poverty.
Fatima Yusuf, a final-year undergraduate at Bayero University, Kano, fears the price surge may derail her studies.
“My project depends on online research. But now I can’t afford consistent access. Sometimes, I’m offline for days. It’s impossible to learn effectively like this.”
Fatima added, “We’re used to managing scarcity. But this is different. Connectivity is a necessity, not a luxury.”
Telecom companies have defended the increase, citing operational challenges. With inflation rising above 33%, and energy costs mounting, they claim the 50% raise was necessary. Initially, these providers had pushed for a 100% hike, but NCC settled for half.
Still, consumer protection groups and civil society bodies believe the timing is insensitive.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the NCC and federal authorities, arguing that the move infringes on citizens’ access to education, communication, and information.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led protests in several cities throughout March, demanding a reversal. In response, the NCC defended its action as “essential for service continuity,” suggesting potential relief initiatives may follow for vulnerable groups.
Digital rights advocate Fadhila Nurudeen, based in Kano, strongly opposed the decision.
“Affordable connectivity should be a priority,” she emphasized. “This kind of tariff adjustment only deepens the digital divide, especially between rural and urban dwellers.”
The pain extends to small-scale entrepreneurs like Hajara Isah, who sells data and airtime from a roadside stand.
“When people hear the new prices, they change their minds. My sales have dropped significantly.”
As more essential services—banking, learning, business—shift online, many Nigerians now find themselves rationing internet access or reverting to basic voice calls and SMS.
Experts warn that if no swift interventions are made, digital access in Nigeria could soon be a privilege only the wealthy can afford, widening inequality in an already strained economy.
