Lagos — MTN Nigeria has pushed back hard against claims that it is quietly draining customers’ data, insisting the company is not stealing from its subscribers and that the real reasons data disappears so quickly are far more ordinary.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the telecoms giant acknowledged the frustration many Nigerians feel when a newly bought data bundle seems to vanish within hours. But it firmly denied any foul play.
“We understand why people get angry when their data finishes faster than they expect,” an MTN Nigeria spokesperson said. “But we are not stealing anyone’s data. Every megabyte that leaves your account is tied to actual usage on the network. There’s no secret deduction happening behind the scenes.”
The company pointed to several everyday factors that eat up data without people noticing:
Many phones keep working in the background even when locked. Apps update themselves, photos sync to the cloud, WhatsApp status videos load, and social media keeps refreshing — all of that uses data. Streaming videos, especially in high definition, is another major culprit. A few minutes of YouTube or Instagram Reels can burn through hundreds of megabytes. Sharing one plan across several phones, tablets or using the phone as a hotspot multiplies the consumption. And in areas with weak network signal, phones often use more data just trying to stay connected.
MTN advised customers to check their usage regularly through the MyMTN app or by dialling the USSD code, turn off background data for apps they don’t need, and switch to Wi-Fi whenever possible. The company also suggested buying data plans that better match how people actually use their phones.
The operator stressed that its billing system is regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission and undergoes regular checks. It said genuine errors do happen sometimes, and those are corrected when customers report them properly.
Complaints about data finishing too quickly have been a common grumble among Nigerian mobile users for years. MTN, still the country’s biggest network, said it is investing in better network capacity and clearer customer information to reduce the frustration.
Anyone who believes their data has been wrongly deducted is encouraged to contact MTN customer care, visit a service centre, or take the matter to the NCC if needed. The company says it is open to resolving genuine cases and remains focused on improving the overall experience for its millions of subscribers.
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