By Peace Erewunmi

Nigerians have taken to social media to criticise the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, following his recent comments suggesting that truly unlimited mobile data plans do not exist anywhere in the world.

The MTN boss had argued that telecom operators cannot sustainably offer unlimited data on mobile networks without affecting service quality, adding that such packages are only possible at very high subscription costs.

However, his remarks sparked widespread backlash from consumers who accused telecom companies of overcharging and offering poor value for data services in Nigeria.

Many Nigerians expressed frustration over what they described as rapid data depletion and high internet costs, with some users claiming that telecom operators have consistently taken advantage of customers over the years.

One viral comment circulating online read: “You’ve been robbing us since 1960,” reflecting the anger of some subscribers who believe the industry has not delivered fair pricing or transparent billing.

Public figures and activists also joined the debate, arguing that consumers in other countries have access to more affordable and sometimes unlimited data plans, unlike what is obtainable in Nigeria.

The controversy has further reignited discussions about the quality of telecommunications services in the country, as well as the need for stronger regulatory oversight to protect consumers.

MTN, however, maintains that network capacity limitations and infrastructure costs make unlimited mobile data impractical under current conditions, especially in high-demand markets.

As of the time of filing this report, the debate continues online, with many Nigerians calling for improved service delivery, clearer billing systems, and more affordable data pricing from telecom operators.