- Nigerians spent N2.37 trillion on data in the last 15 months.
- Local internet traffic has surged to 1Tbps.
- Broadband penetration reached 47.73%.
- Food remains the biggest expense for most Nigerians.
Data vs. Dinner: The Struggle is Real
In Nigeria, where the economy is tighter than ever, people are having to make tough choices. Food, groceries, and getting around are top priorities, but many are also turning to the internet for a little escape. This means spending what little money they have left on data.
Nigeria’s Data Addiction: N2.37 Trillion Spent!
Even though some folks are cutting back on data to save money, network operators are still seeing huge growth. Over the past 15 months, Nigerians have splashed out a staggering N2.37 trillion on data! According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), data consumption hit 1,000,930.6 terabytes (TB) in January 2025, slightly dropping to 995,876.1 TB by the end of the first quarter.
Nigeria Joins the Big Leagues in Internet Traffic
All this data usage has pushed Nigeria’s local internet traffic to 1 Terabyte per second (1Tbps). That’s a huge deal! It makes Nigeria the first country in West Africa and only the second in Africa (after South Africa) to reach this milestone. According to Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), the 1Tbps attainment was because of huge data consumption via video calls and streaming services on Netflix and YouTube.
Who’s Cashing In? Telecom Giants See Massive Data Revenue
Mobile network operators (MNOs) are raking in serious cash thanks to our insatiable appetite for data. MTN made a whopping N1.59 trillion in 2024 and another N529 billion in the first quarter of 2025, totaling N2.12 trillion over 15 months. Airtel pulled in $654 million (N1.05 trillion) for the year ending March 31, 2024. Even with a conservative estimate, Airtel likely earned over N1.25 trillion from data in those 15 months.
Globacom, 9mobile, and smaller internet service providers (ISPs) like Spectranet, FibreOne, Swift, Starlink, and MainOne, aren’t required to share their financial info, so the real number could be even higher!
Data Costs More Than Some States’ Budgets!
To put things in perspective, the N2.37 trillion spent on data by just two telcos is larger than the entire 2025 budgets of six states in North-Eastern Nigeria.
Nigerians Prioritize Food, But Data Still Matters
A report by PiggyVest revealed that many Nigerians are struggling to save, with a significant portion earning less than N100,000 per month. Food is the biggest expense, with rising prices forcing families to spend a huge chunk of their income on groceries. Transportation is another major cost.
Why Are We Spending So Much on Data?
MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola says social media and streaming content are driving data consumption. Netflix declared $10.5 billion Q1 revenue across its countries of operations, including Nigeria, where it has 169,600 direct subscribers. YouTube has also become a streaming platform of choice for many Nigerians.
The Downside: Network Quality Still Lags
Despite the huge revenues, Nigeria’s mobile network quality is still lacking. According to Opensignal’s Global Network Excellence Index, Nigeria ranked 105th out of 137 countries in terms of network quality. Opensignal reported that South Africa outpaced some of its African peers.
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