MTN Nigeria has overhauled its data pricing, raising costs by up to 200% and removing popular hourly and yearly bundles. Short-term plans are now less affordable, and bulk purchases are more expensive. Learn how to get the best value for your data in 2025.

On February 13, 2025, MTN Nigeria announced a sweeping revision to its data plans, with some plans experiencing price hikes of up to 200%. This drastic update has eliminated some of the cheapest bulk data options, introduced new pricing tiers, and forced users to rethink their data consumption habits. In this blog post, we break down:

• The major changes to MTN data pricing.
• Plans that have been removed and new plans introduced.
• The percentage increase in pricing.
• How these changes affect consumer buying decisions.

What Has Changed with MTN Data Pricing?

MTN’s latest revision has brought about some of the most significant price increases in recent years, affecting all categories—from hourly and daily plans to monthly and yearly bundles. Below are the key shifts:

1. Drastic Increase in Cost Per MB
• Previously, the best cost per MB was ₦0.10 (10 kobo per MB), available through hourly and yearly plans.
• Now, the cheapest rate is ₦0.22 (22 kobo per MB) in the 250GB Monthly Plan.
• Short-term plans now start at ₦0.24 (24 kobo per MB) in the 2.5GB 2-Day Plan, more than double the previous lowest rate.
2. Removal of Cheap Hourly, Quarterly, and Yearly Plans
• The popular 10GB Hourly Plan (₦1,000 for 10GB), which allowed users to binge-watch or download large files cheaply, has been discontinued.
• All yearly and 6-month plans (up to 4.5TB) have been removed, meaning users no longer have a cost-effective, long-term data option.
• 3-Month and 6-Month plans have also been eliminated, limiting options for bulk data purchases.
3. Introduction of Expensive Short-Term Plans
• The hourly data plan has been replaced by a 400MB plan for ₦100, which now costs ₦0.2241 per MB, making it more than twice as expensive as the previous best hourly rate.
• The lowest daily data plan (75MB for ₦75) now costs ₦1.00 per MB, making it the most expensive per MB in MTN’s pricing history.
4. Focus on MoMo and MyMTN NG App
• Some of the best rates, such as the 1GB Daily Plan (₦200) and 2.5GB Daily Plan (₦500), are only available via MoMo or the MyMTN NG App.
• Traditional USSD and SMS activations now cost more per MB compared to in-app purchases.

MTN Data Plans That Have Been Removed

Many popular and cost-effective MTN data plans have been eliminated or altered significantly:

 

Percentage Increase in Data Pricing

Across all plans, there has been a steep rise in pricing. Below are some of the highest percentage increases:

• Hourly Plan Increase: From ₦0.0977 per MB to ₦0.2241 per MB (129% increase).
• Weekly Plan Increase: The best weekly rate was ₦0.1302 per MB; now the cheapest is ₦0.3000 per MB (130% increase).
• Monthly Plan Increase: Cheapest monthly cost per MB was ₦0.1465; now it's ₦0.2200 (50% increase).
• Yearly Plan Removed: Users who relied on ₦0.0977 per MB yearly plans now have no alternative.

How This Affects Buying Decisions

1. Heavy Users Are Forced Into Expensive Monthly Plans
• Users who previously bought yearly, 6-month, or quarterly bundles now must opt for monthly plans.
• The cheapest way to buy bulk data is now the ₦55,000 (250GB) monthly plan.
2. Short-Term Plans Are No Longer Viable
• The removal of the affordable hourly and 3-month plans forces users to spend more even for short-term needs.
• The best 2-day option (2.5GB for ₦600) is now more than twice the old hourly cost per MB.
3. MoMo and MyMTN NG App Are Now Essential for Discounts
• If you don’t use MoMo or the MyMTN NG App, you are paying more per MB.
• Traditional USSD codes now offer the worst value.
4. Casual Users Are Left with Expensive Options
• The cheapest monthly data plan (₦1,500 for 1.8GB) now costs ₦0.8333 per MB, making it nearly four times more expensive per MB than larger bundles.

Final Thoughts: How to Adapt to the New Pricing

With MTN’s strategic price increase, users need to adjust their buying habits:

• For Heavy Users: The 200GB 2-Month Plan (₦50,000, ₦0.2500 per MB) offers the best value for bulk purchases.
• For Moderate Users: The 11GB + 25 Minutes Monthly Plan (₦5,000, ₦0.4545 per MB) is the best deal under ₦5,000.
• For Casual Users: The 5GB Weekly Plan (₦1,500, ₦0.3000 per MB) provides a reasonable balance between cost and validity.

If you’re looking to get the best MTN data value in 2025, the cheapest option per MB now requires large, upfront payments—a significant shift from previous years.

For the latest updates, always check MTN Nigeria’s website or use the MyMTN NG App for exclusive discounts.