MTN Nigeria CEO: Data Pricing Is Among World’s Cheapest

MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola says mobile data in Nigeria is among the four cheapest globally, challenging critics to compare prices internationally.

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, has defended data pricing by network providers in the country, stating that Nigeria has one of the cheapest mobile data costs in the world.

Speaking during the MTN Data Trial conference held in Lagos on Saturday, Toriola challenged critics to compare local data bundle prices with those in Kenya, Congo, and other countries. He said Nigerian data is one of the four cheapest globally, even after a tariff increase. He acknowledged that Ghana also has cheap data.

In January 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission approved a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators, lower than the over 100% increase requested by some operators. The regulator said the review considered ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability.