MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola has revealed that the 2025 telecom tariff increase prevented the collapse of the country’s telecom sector. Speaking at a public hearing in Lagos tagged Data on Trial, Toriola stated that the 50% tariff hike approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was the only way to keep networks operational.
The hearing, designed as a courtroom-style debate, pitted consumers against MTN over data depletion complaints. Toriola admitted that before the tariff adjustment, MTN struggled to cover operational costs. "We were effectively bankrupt. Without the increase, we would have shut down the network," he said. The company spent over N900 billion on infrastructure in 2025 and plans to invest over N1 trillion in 2026.
Despite the tariff hike, consumers have accused telecom operators of failing to improve service quality. Toriola acknowledged infrastructure challenges, citing vandalism, fibre cuts, and security issues. "Area boys block refuelling of sites, manholes are set on fire, and base stations are damaged. These incidents affect millions of subscribers," he explained. He maintained that Nigeria’s mobile networks still meet global standards.
To address data depletion concerns, MTN engaged KPMG to audit its billing systems. The audit, covering records from April 2026, confirmed that customer billing matched actual data consumption. MTN also pledged to launch a KPMG-validated data monitoring portal by June 2026, allowing subscribers to track usage via its app. The NCC has already reviewed the portal.
Consumer advocate Timi Agbaje, who led the prosecution team, praised MTN’s transparency but stressed the need for independent verification. "Subscribers still struggle to understand how their data is consumed," he said. MTN’s Chief Technical Officer, Yahaya Ibrahim, attributed rapid data depletion to background app activity, including cloud backups and automatic updates.
