THE RISING COST OF DATA IN NIGERIA AND WHY IT NEVER SEEMS TO LAST

NETWORK PROVIDERS

If there’s one thing almost every Nigerian can agree on right now, it’s the fact that data is expensive and somehow, it finishes far too quickly. You buy a bundle with hope, confidence, even small excitement only to check your balance a few days later and wonder if your phone has been secretly sharing your data with the entire neighborhood.

Over the past few years, the cost of mobile data in Nigeria has steadily climbed. What used to last a student or small business owner a whole month now barely survives two weeks, sometimes even less. For a country where internet access has become essential for work, school, business and social connection, this is more than a mild inconvenience, it’s an actual problem.

Data is no longer a luxury. Students rely on it for online classes, research and assignments. Entrepreneurs depend on it to run online businesses, advertise products, reply customers and process payments. Content creators, freelancers, journalists and remote workers need constant internet access to survive in the digital economy. Yet, the cost of staying connected keeps rising, while income for many Nigerians remains stagnant.

What makes the situation even more annoying is that despite how costly data has become, network quality remains poor. Calls drop, pages refuse to load and simple tasks take forever to complete. You pay premium prices but still find yourself switching between airplane mode and mobile data, moving from one corner of the room to another, just to get a stable signal.

Even when the network eventually works, the data still doesn’t seem to last. Many users complain that their data drains unusually fast, you can literally leave your 2gb worth of data on throughout the night and wake up to nothing; even when they’re not streaming videos or downloading large files. Before you know it, you’re getting that dreaded notification; “You have used 90% of your data”.

Network providers blame user behavior or device settings, but the lack of transparency leaves customers feeling cheated. There’s rarely a clear breakdown of exactly where the data went, and customer service responses often feel rehearsed rather than helpful.

The impact is felt most by low-income earners and young people. Many have to choose between buying data and meeting basic needs. Others miss online classes, lose business opportunities, or delay important work simply because the network is unreliable or the data is finished.

Beyond personal frustration, the rising cost of data combined with poor network quality slows national growth. Affordable, reliable internet should be a priority, not a privilege. While users can try to manage data by turning off background usage and monitoring apps, the larger responsibility lies with network providers and regulators. Fair pricing, improved infrastructure, better network quality and honest communication would go a long way in rebuilding trust.

Until then, Nigerians will continue to buy data with crossed fingers, paying more, getting less and still struggling with a network that barely works.