NEWS
MTN Under Fire as Subscribers Accuse Telecom Giant of “Stealing” Data Bundles
Telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria has publicly defended its corporate integrity amid mounting outrage from subscribers across the country who allege that the network provider is illegally wiping out their data bundles without explanation.
The backlash reached a boiling point during a public stakeholder forum themed Data on Trial, held in Ikoyi, Lagos, where top officials of the telecom company faced angry customers demanding answers over persistent network failures and unusually rapid data depletion.
Representing the company at the heated engagement, the General Manager of Network for MTN Nigeria, Michael Ndukwe, addressed a packed audience as frustration from subscribers intensified both at the venue and across social media platforms.
The live broadcast of the event on Channels Television sparked massive reactions online, with many subscribers venting their anger in the comment section. Several users complained about poor network performance, while others accused the telecom provider of draining their data unfairly.
Many subscribers lamented that the network had been unstable throughout the day, with others pleading with the company to stop frustrating customers already battling economic hardship.
In what appeared to be a direct response to the widespread allegations, MTN Nigeria presented a detailed slide titled MTN is Stealing My Data… to explain why many users experience rapid data exhaustion.
The company admitted it understood the growing frustration among Nigerians, particularly at a time when the cost of living continues to rise and every naira matters to consumers.
According to the explanation presented by the telecom giant, data usage cannot occur without an active trigger or background activity linked to the customer’s device. MTN maintained that its systems do not automatically deduct data without user-related actions.
The company further explained that the migration to faster 4G and 5G networks has significantly increased data consumption. While the advanced technology delivers smoother browsing, faster downloads, and higher-quality streaming, it also causes users to consume more data within shorter periods.
MTN also highlighted several hidden activities responsible for silent data drainage, including video streaming, media-heavy social media applications, automatic cloud backups, background app refreshes, file downloads, and content sharing.
The telecom provider insisted that many subscribers unknowingly consume large amounts of data due to applications running silently in the background of their smartphones.
Despite the growing criticism, MTN Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, customer satisfaction, and improved network performance, stressing that the company remains focused on delivering full value to subscribers rather than exploiting them.