Nigerians’ Data Consumption Hits 4 Million Terabytes
The latest NCC report shows a massive jump in data use across Nigeria. While phone calls are still there, data has become the main focus for millions, with 185 million active lines.
Nigeria Data Consumption Hits 4 Million Terabytes | 2026 Report
Nigeria has reached a major milestone in how we use the internet. According to the latest numbers from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerians used over 4 million terabytes of data in the first three months of 2026. This is a massive amount of information moving through our phones and computers every day.
To put this in perspective, think about how often you watch videos on YouTube, scroll through TikTok, or send voice notes on WhatsApp. All these activities use data. The report shows that in January alone, we used about 1.3 million terabytes. This number dropped slightly in February but then climbed to its highest point in March, with over 1.4 million terabytes used.
For a long time, the most important metric in the telecom industry was how many people had SIM cards to make phone calls. Now, that has changed. Almost everyone who wants a phone line already has one. Today, the focus is on how much we do online. We are no longer just calling each other; we are streaming movies, running businesses on Instagram, and using banking apps for every payment.
The report also tells us which companies are providing this service. MTN Nigeria is still at the top with over 95 million users. Airtel is in second place with 63 million users. These two companies are growing the fastest because they are spending a lot of money to build more towers and lay more fibre cables across the country. Globacom and T2 Mobile (formerly 9mobile) are also working to catch up by upgrading their equipment.
The Breakdown of the Record
The data use didn't happen all at once. Here is how the first quarter of 2026 looked:
January: 1.38 million terabytes
February: 1.26 million terabytes (a small dip because the month is shorter)
March: 1.42 million terabytes (the busiest month ever recorded)
On average, Nigerians were using about 46,000 terabytes every single day by March.
The latest official reports from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) currently cover up to March 2026. Because these figures are usually released a few months after the actual month ends, the specific terabyte count for April and May 2026 has not been made public yet.
However, based on the record-breaking trend of 1.42 million terabytes in March, experts expect usage to stay above 1.4 million terabytes per month as more people move to 4G and 5G networks.
As we use more data, companies need to make sure the internet is fast and reliable. MTN, for example, spent about 1 trillion Naira in 2025 just to improve its network. The goal is to ensure that, whether you are in a big city or a small village, you can connect to the internet without issues.
However, there are still challenges. It costs a lot of money to keep these networks running, especially with the high price of diesel used to power the towers. Even so, the trend is clear. Nigeria is becoming a data-driven country where the internet is at the heart of everything we do.
