The Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students has vowed to stage a mass protest at MTN Nigeria’s headquarters, accusing the telecom giant of failing to fully reverse its recent data tariff hike.
MTN had initially raised the cost of its 15GB weekly data plan from N2,000 to N6,000, sparking widespread criticism and prompting industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress ¹. Following public outcry, the company announced a reversal, but students claim this was deceptive.
Instead of reversing the hike, MTN scrapped the 15GB weekly bundle and replaced it with a 7GB bundle at N3,000 – less than half the original data volume at a higher cost. Students describe this move as an “attack” that exacerbates the digital divide and makes education more difficult for young people reliant on affordable data.
The students have issued a 72-hour ultimatum for a full reversal and plan to mobilize across campuses and streets until their voices are heard. Their demands include:
– Immediate Reversal: Reverse the 200% tariff hike
– Restoration: Restore the 15GB weekly bundle at N2,000
– Student-Friendly Plans: Introduce data plans that cater to students’ needs
– Regulatory Intervention: Government and NCC intervention to regulate telecom pricing.
MTN Nigeria’s Senior Manager of External Relations, Funso Aina, stated that the plan in question has been discontinued, but students remain unsatisfied .
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