MTN denies data theft, blames phone settings for fast depletion

MTN Nigeria has denied deliberately deducting subscribers’ data, saying smartphone settings, video streaming, automatic downloads and background apps are the main reasons many Nigerians see their bundles finish fast.

The company spoke at the “Data on Trial” forum in Abuja on Monday, October 26, 2026, on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit.

What MTN said about fast data depletion

MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Network Performance, Mike Ndukwe, acknowledged growing complaints over data consumption. “We’re not stealing your data. However, we completely understand how it feels, especially right now, where every amount counts,” Ndukwe said.

He said data use can come from activities users start or apps running automatically. He named TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp as apps that can consume substantial data, especially with high-resolution video streaming or automatic downloads. A 15-second TikTok video can consume between 2 and 20 megabytes, depending on resolution.

Ndukwe said WhatsApp text messages generally need minimal data, but videos, status updates, group media and automatic downloads can raise consumption. “If your WhatsApp is set on auto-download, straight away it hits your data bundle,” he said. He disclosed that internet data consumption had increased by approximately 43 per cent year-on-year.

Why phone and network records differ

MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, David Ogunsola, explained why data figures on smartphones sometimes differ from operators’ records. He attributed the gap to measurement methods, background traffic, session timing and rounding practices. These factors can produce differences ranging from 2 to approximately 12 per cent under certain circumstances.

Ogunsola also said network technologies such as 3G and 4G mainly affect connection speeds rather than directly determining how much data an activity consumes. Faster connections may still encourage higher-quality streaming and more internet activity.

Settings MTN and Xiaomi want Nigerians to change

MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, defended operating costs, citing electricity expenses and the difficulty of maintaining telecom infrastructure. He said Nigerian operators often provide electricity and transportation for network facilities, raising costs. Toriola said telecom companies in Nigeria deploy equipment comparable to that used in Europe and the United States but face additional infrastructure costs. He said MTN would intensify consumer education.

Xiaomi Nigeria’s Northwest Sales Manager, Kevin Kojode, named automatic software updates, cloud backups, background applications and unrestricted hotspot connections as other causes of unexpected data depletion. “Today, users don’t just go online, they stay online,” Kojode said.

MTN and Xiaomi advised subscribers to disable automatic media downloads on WhatsApp and other messaging apps, reduce video streaming quality on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, restrict software updates and cloud backups to Wi-Fi, limit background data usage and monitor apps consuming excessive data. They also asked users to monitor hotspot connections and data balances through smartphone settings and the MyMTN application.

In a separate market update, NATCOM Development and Investment Limited, trading as NTEL, is rebuilding its presence in Nigeria with WakaGo, a global eSIM service, and AirFibre, a wireless broadband solution. The former MTN rival is targeting Nigerians seeking affordable international connectivity, businesses and communities struggling with unreliable services.