News

Subscribers React As MTN Raises Data Prices To Reflect 50% Tariff Hike

Published

8 months ago

February 11, 2025

Nigerian subscribers are reportedly switching to alternative network providers following a sharp increase in MTN Nigeria’s data and SMS tariffs.

The telecommunications giant recently implemented a price adjustment of up to 50 per cent on its data bundles and SMS rates, sparking widespread backlash.

Reports from affected users indicate that the 15GB data plan has increased from N4,500 to N6,500, while the 20GB plan now costs N7,500, up from N5,500. The hike is even steeper for larger plans, with the 1.5TB 90-day package surging from N150,000 to N240,000 and the 600GB 90-day plan rising from N75,000 to ₦120,000. SMS rates have also increased from N4 to N6 per message.

The development has sparked frustration, with many Nigerians taking to social media to express their dissatisfaction. Social media user @not_ahmedjunior lamented, “It’s nearly impossible for the average Nigerian to progress. The 15GB data plan that used to cost N2,000 is now N6,000.”

Similarly, another user, @official_GZU, pointed out that the price hike reflects the country’s economic realities rather than a random decision.

“Complaining won’t change anything because telecom operators operate within a profit-driven system. Prices are influenced by inflation, currency devaluation, and market forces,” he said.

Adding to the frustration, media platform OloriSuperGal reported that MTN has also discontinued its “Hot Deals” package (*121#), which previously offered discounted data plans.

This increase exceeds the 50% hike reportedly approved by the federal government and contradicts MTN’s initial proposal of a 150% increase, which was rejected by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Subscribers were further shocked as the price adjustment took effect earlier than expected, despite ongoing discussions with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

The sudden price increase has triggered a wave of backlash, with subscribers already struggling with Nigeria’s economic challenges expressing their frustration online. Many have called on MTN to reconsider its decision, while some are advocating for a boycott.

One user, Khan, wrote: “I think it’s high time we boycotted MTN. Their network is terrible, and their data plans are a rip-off. The 15GB package doesn’t even last three days. During the protest, they deliberately sabotaged their own network to prevent it from happening.”

Another user, Silva, tweeted: “Nigeria is a very difficult place to live in, honestly. MTN waking up one day to increase their weekly 15GB data from 2K to 6K without prior warning is textbook insanity. That’s 24K in a month—almost the minimum wage of the country spent on data. This is hell.”

Similarly, @neefenawti criticized the government’s regulatory stance, saying: “I won’t even blame MTN. In a country where the president said he does not believe in price control, what do you expect? The government is watching people plunge further into poverty.”

While MTN has yet to issue an official statement explaining the price increase, the decision has left many subscribers feeling shortchanged. With Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile yet to announce similar hikes, there is growing speculation about whether MTN’s move will influence competitors or lead to a shift in customer loyalty.

As the situation unfolds, Nigerians are calling for urgent regulatory intervention to ensure affordability and transparency in telecom pricing.

News

Why I Won’t Attend Gaza Summit In Egypt — Netanyahu

Published

1 hour ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend Monday’s Gaza summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh because it coincides with a Jewish holiday, his office said.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited by US President Donald Trump to attend a conference in Egypt today,” his office said in a statement.

“The prime minister thanked President Trump for the invitation but said he would be unable to attend due to the timing coinciding with the start of the holiday” of Simhat Torah, which begins Monday evening and continues until sunset Tuesday.

Earlier, Egypt’s presidency said Netanyahu had been invited to attend following a call between US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and the Israeli premier.

AFP

News

Fubara Names New Rivers SSG

Published

1 hour ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the appointment of Benibo Anabraba as the new Secretary to the State Government.

The appointment was confirmed on Monday in a statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.

According to the release, Anabraba is scheduled to be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The statement said, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the appointment of Hon. Benibo Anabraba as Secretary to the Rivers State Government.

“The new SSG will be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, by 4:00 PM at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

The appointment follows Fubara’s recent reinstatement to office after a period of political and legal turbulence that led to his suspension under emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly. He cited the prolonged political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor and political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, as the reason.

In Fubara’s place, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator, with a mandate to restore political stability.

Recall that the immediate past administrator, upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara.

Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.

Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.

His return to the governorship has coincided with a flurry of administrative changes as the governor consolidates his team.

News

FG To Disburse ₦6.3bn Interest-free Loans To 21,000 Flood Victims

Published

1 hour ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government is set to disburse ₦6.3 billion in interest-free loans to 21,000 Nigerians affected by recent flood disasters across the country.

Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Sununu, made this known on Monday in Abuja during a roundtable marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Sununu said the initiative aims to cushion the impact of flooding and enhance food security nationwide, Channels reports.

“In the next few weeks, 21,000 Nigerians will receive interest-free, collateral-free loans of ₦300,000 each.

“This intervention is designed to support farmers and strengthen communities affected by flooding,” he said.

The minister further revealed that the Federal Government, through the National Social Investment Programme, has reached over 8.1 million households with more than ₦300 billion in Conditional Cash Transfers.

“This support has improved the resilience, health, and education of many vulnerable households. The process will continue under the Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” Sununu added.

He also announced plans to empower internally displaced persons through a scheme that guarantees a market for their produce.

“Under our new collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, IDPs will retain 30% of their produce while the government will off-take 70%, providing direct cash payments to the participants,” he explained.

In her remarks, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, highlighted the growing threat of climate-related disasters and called for stronger preventive measures.

Umar noted that Nigeria faces increasing risks from climate change, conflicts, pandemics, and technological hazards, stressing that disaster management must shift from reactive to proactive approaches.

She also announced the launch of two key policy frameworks — the NEMA Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030) to guide future disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts.

“These frameworks promote innovation in financing, institutional collaboration, and risk-informed development,” she said, adding that NEMA is developing a National Risk Monitoring and Information Platform to enhance early warning and data-driven decision-making.

She further called for innovative financing options, including catastrophe bonds, climate funds, and blended finance models, to sustain disaster prevention and recovery initiatives.

The event, which focused on building resilience against climate-related disasters, was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, lawmakers, and international partners.

The PUNCH reports that 238 persons have lost their lives, while 135,764 others have been displaced following floods that swept through parts of the country as of October 10, 2025, according to figures obtained from the National Emergency Management Agency’s 2025 Flood Dashboard on Saturday.

NEMA reports that at least 409,714 people have been affected so far, with 826 sustaining various degrees of injuries and 115 reported missing across the country.

Flood-related deaths were recorded in multiple states, bringing the nationwide death toll to 238.