In Nigeria today, the internet has become a must for fun, work, and general living. The men need it to stream football. Christians need it for those online prayer streams. It’s why we can doomscroll on social media, watch those YouTube movies, and work remotely.
These activities require data and, by extension, money from your wallets into the accounts of telecom companies. This situation makes it unsurprising to discover how much Nigerians spent daily on data in 2025.
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How Much Nigerians Spent Daily on Data in 2025
According to a recent Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data, Nigeria’s annual data spending jumped a staggering 171.41% between 2024 and 2025. In 2025, the amount Nigerians spent on data reached ₦7.62 trillion.
To break this down, it means Nigerians collectively spent:
- About ₦20.87 billion on mobile data every single day
- ₦146.51 billion weekly,
- ₦634.88 billion monthly, and
- ₦7.62 trillion for the whole year.
Sidenote: That financial security goal isn’t looking good as a collective.
Why Nigerians Spent More on Data in 2025
This surge in data spending comes from a 35.7% jump in total data usage. Nigerians went from using 9.76 million terabytes in 2024 to 13.25 million terabytes in 2025. This also isn’t surprising as video streaming became more prominent. By streaming videos alone, you can use up to 1GB per hour in HD quality.
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At the same time, the average cost of 1GB of data roughly doubled. The average cost increased from about ₦287.5 in 2024 to around ₦575 in 2025, no thanks to providers like MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile increasing prices.
Why This Matters
This boom in how much Nigerians spent daily on data in 2025 shows how deeply the internet has become woven into daily life. Around 29% of Nigerians now use the internet, especially mobile users who use it for video calls, watching free online videos, and streaming free music.
For telecom operators, data has become the fastest-growing revenue engine. At companies like MTN Nigeria, their data revenue rose nearly 380% since 2020. Data now accounts for more than half of the company’s total earnings. This boom also benefits streaming platforms like YouTube, as higher engagement translates into more ad revenue.
So, who does this spending surge affect? Consumers!
Consumers are frustrated. Many pay more but get less reliable service. Nigeria’s internet speeds rank 85th globally for mobile and 129th for fixed broadband, with frequent downtime caused by fibre cuts and network outages.
Between January and August 2025, NCC reported that operators experienced over 19,000 fibre cuts. These incidents often leave people digitally stranded for hours.
Sidenote: Can’t we all relate?
Internet users in Nigeria recount losing workdays because they couldn’t join essential online meetings, even after buying data at high costs. Hence, consumer bodies like the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) call for better service quality to justify higher costs.
For the telcos, they argue that years of underinvestment forced the price increases and that recent rises will help finance better infrastructure. Companies like MTN Nigeria have boosted capital expenditure, and regulators are now pushing operators to face penalties for service failures. Perhaps, some accountability, finally.
Overall, there’s a warning here. If service quality doesn’t improve and prices continue to rise faster than the average salary in Nigeria, frustration will grow. Nigerians cannot continue to pay the price while still waiting for the services to catch up.
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