Nigerians Face Rapid Data Depletion Amid Streaming Surge

In June 2026, Nigerians consumed 1.53 million terabytes of internet data, increasing to 1.66 million terabytes in July, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This data usage translates to an estimated N3.67 trillion spent on data in the first half of 2026.

A public forum titled "Data on Trial," convened by MTN Nigeria in Lagos, featured CEO Karl Toriola and General Manager Michael Ndukwe, who discussed the primary causes of rapid data depletion. Key findings indicate that video streaming, particularly in HD, significantly impacts data consumption, with estimates showing that one hour of HD streaming can use up to 3GB.

TikTok and YouTube were highlighted for their high data usage, with TikTok consuming approximately 1GB per hour at default settings. The NCC advises users to adjust video quality settings and download content over Wi-Fi to mitigate data loss.