In Nigeria, even hunger takes a back seat to mobile data. Even as inflation hits food prices and basic living costs skyrocket, millions are still spending billions to stay online. And the country’s biggest telcos are riding the wave straight to record profits.
MTN Nigeria’s data revenue in Q2 2025 soared by 85.6%, raking in ₦701 billion. Airtel Nigeria followed with a 60.3% jump, earning ₦260 billion in the same period. Combined, that’s nearly ₦1 trillion made from Nigerians’ need to scroll, stream, and stay connected.
And it’s not just from price hikes. Nigerians are burning through more data than ever. In May alone, the country consumed 1.04 million terabytes, according to the NCC—the highest since 2023.
MTN reports a 26.3% rise in average data use per user, now hitting 13.2GB/month. Airtel’s smartphone users are close behind at 11.8GB/month.
What’s fueling this? A mobile-first generation living online. Whether it’s TikTok, WhatsApp, remote work, or Netflix binging, digital life is non-negotiable—even when food isn’t guaranteed.
The telcos know this. MTN added 240 new 4G sites, launched a new data centre, and is expanding fibre-to-home access. Airtel boosted quarterly capex to $39 million, with plans to double that by year-end.
They’re also going rural. Airtel is pushing 5G into underserved areas and upgrading its data centres to connect with the 2Africa submarine cable, giving Nigerians more bandwidth and faster speeds.
For many, staying online is more vital than three square meals. Telcos aren’t just selling data anymore. They’re selling access to identity, work, escape, and community.
So, while pockets shrink, data bills grow. In today’s Nigeria, disconnection isn’t an option.
