Nigeria’s daily data usage averaged 336 gigabytes per second in 2024, marking a 39% increase from the previous year—a clear indication of the data-driven lifestyle many Nigerians lead.
Dr. Aminu Maida Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) disclosed this while delivering his keynote Speech at The 93RD Telecoms Consumers Parliatment held at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex Auditorium, Abuja.
The NCC boss whose speech was titled “Optimizing Data Experience: Empowering Consumers through Awareness and Transparency in a Consumer-Centric Telecom Industry,” said, the theme is timely, as internet use has become essential to daily life, and our role at the NCC is to not only ensure accessibility but to enhance service delivery for consumers.
He said: “Globally, DataReportal notes there are now over 5 billion internet users, with Nigeria alone accounting for 132 million connections. Nigerians spend an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes on social media daily, far above the global average, underscoring how deeply embedded digital interaction is in our lives. In 2024, Nigeria’s daily data usage averaged 336 gigabytes per second, marking a 39% increase from the previous year—a clear indication of the data-driven lifestyle many Nigerians lead.”
According to him, despite this, many consumers feel their data depletes faster than expected, echoing a sentiment I hear often. Nigeria isn’t alone in this; other countries, like Eswatini, are also working to address similar consumer concerns about data usage.
He said earlier this year, NCC analyzed consumer complaints, revealing data depletion and billing issues as top concerns. In response, we directed Mobile Network Operators and ISPs to conduct audits of their billing systems, which reported no major issues. However, perceptions persist due to two main factors:
(1) the impact of high-resolution devices and improved technologies on data use and (2) the complexity of operator tariffs.
“With the advent of 4G and 5G, as well as devices with ultra-high-definition screens, data consumption has naturally increased. For example, while viewing a photo on Instagram might have required only 100 kilobytes of data five years ago, today, with advanced camera resolutions, a photo can consume between two to four megabytes when opened on Instagram. According to Tech Advisor, an online resource that offers tech reviews, spending an hour on Instagram can set you off an average of 600 Megabytes of your data, while streaming platforms like YouTube would set you off by about 3.5 to 5.4 Gigabytes per hour,” he said..
According to the NCC boss, improved technologies go beyond their purchase cost to our pockets, they also come at a cost to data. Because they have better screen resolutions, they consume higher quality media that consumes more data. This is the same for our increasing digital habits: according to DataReportal, the world’s internet users are spending less time watching television; the average daily television viewing has fallen by over 8% in the past one year. These viewers are now spending more time on their telephones, tablets, and smart TVs streaming programmes that they would previously have watched on broadcast television.
He stated that recognizing these challenges, the Commission, in collaboration with major operators, launched a Joint Industry Campaign on Consumer Awareness on Smarter Data Usage. This media campaign, spanning radio, television, newspapers, and SMS, aims to educate consumers on effective data management. “Our message emphasizes empowering consumers with the knowledge to optimize their data usage. For example, many smartphone users may not know that their devices can track data usage and allow them to set limits on the amount of data they want to use.”
Smartphones, he said, even when idle, often run background applications like automatic updates and location services, which consume data. Additionally, high-definition streaming services like Netflix consume substantial data— about three gigabytes per hour in high definition, or seven gigabytes in ultra-high definition.
He stated that the Commission believes that an informed consumer is a better-equipped consumer, leading to a clearer understanding of data consumption and reducing misconceptions about data depletion.
He said in addition, to address tariff complexity, NCC issued a Guidance on Tariff Simplification, requiring operators to provide clear, accessible information on data plans and pricing. This transparency will empower consumers to make better-informed decisions about their data usage and billing.
