An MTN booster station located on the premises of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, was gutted by fire on Saturday.

Investigations by TheNigerian Online revealed that the fire, which broke out at the booster station within the Faculty of Nursing, was caused by an electrical surge.

One of the witnesses told our correspondent that “the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday around 4 am.”

Another source said, “The incident affected the Mikano electrical generator, board, and other telecommunications gadgets in the booster station.”

When contacted in Ibadan, the state capital, the Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform to Governor Seyi Makinde and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident.

He said the booster station belonged to the MTN.

He said, “The state Fire Service’s prompt response doused the fire at the MTN booster station beside the Faculty of Nursing, University of Ibadan.

“The fire incident was reported exactly at 04:00 hrs on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

“The fire personnel, led by ACFS Olubunmi, were promptly deployed to the scene and arrived on time.

“On arrival, we met the Mikano electrical generator and board on fire. We quickly joined hands with the university’s fire marshals, and the fire was extinguished completely. The fire was caused by an electrical surge”, he explained.

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The Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee has vowed to stage a mass protest at MTN Nigeria’s headquarters, accusing the telecom giant of failing to reverse its recent data tariff hike fully.

TheNigerian Metro recalls that MTN initially raised the cost of its 15GB weekly data plan from N2,000 to N6,000, sparking widespread criticism from Nigerians and prompting industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Following public outcry, the company announced a reversal.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Abdul-Raheem Abdul-Quadri, and Public Relations Officer, Ridwan Ajayi, NANS JCC Lagos denounced MTN’s claim of reversal, calling it a “deceptive response to our demands.”

“Instead of reversing the hike, MTN has scrapped the 15GB weekly bundle and replaced it with a 7GB bundle at N3,000—less than half the original data volume at a higher cost! This is not a relief, nor is it a reversal; it is a further exploitation of students and Nigerians, disguised as an adjustment,” the students lamented.

NANS described the move as an “attack on students and Nigerians,” warning that it exacerbates the digital divide and makes education more difficult for young people who rely on affordable data for learning, research, and daily activities.

Having issued a 72-hour ultimatum for a full reversal, NANS JCC Lagos declared a mass protest at MTN’s headquarters, with further details to be announced later.

“We refuse to be silenced! If MTN and the NCC refuse to act, we will continue to mobilise across campuses and the streets until our voices are heard,” the statement added.

The students’ demands include an immediate reversal of the 200 per cent tariff hike; restoration of the 15GB weekly bundle at N2,000; introduction of student-friendly data plans; and the government and NCC intervention to regulate telecom pricing.

NANS called on youth organisations, civil society groups, and the general public to join them in resisting what they describe as unfair pricing by telecom operators.

When TheNigerian Metro contacted the Senior Manager of External Relations at MTN Nigeria, Funso Aina, on Sunday, he said the plan had already been discontinued.

He stated, “The plan in question has been discontinued. It is no longer available in our bouquet of services. There are several other options available for customers to choose from, all within the approved framework.”

MTN, Nigeria’s largest telecommunications operator on Tuesday commenced implementation of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s approved tariff hike by increasing its data prices.

This follows the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of a 50 per cent tariff adjustment, which telecom operators had requested to counter economic pressures.

MTN Nigeria defended its recent data tariff hike, assuring customers that the adjustment is necessary to sustain operations and improve service quality.

The telecom giant insists that rising operational costs, inflation, and currency devaluation have made it impossible to maintain previous pricing structures without compromising network performance.

However, the sharp increase in some data plans—far exceeding the approved 50 per cent, has sparked widespread consumer backlash, with many subscribers calling the move excessive and unfair.

MTN’s revised data pricing, which took effect on February 10, 2025, saw significant changes across several popular plans. A check by our correspondent using the *312# code on the MTN network showed the revised MTN data prices.

 

Despite MTN’s justification, many Nigerians remain skeptical, with social media flooded with complaints. While the NCC had approved a maximum 50 per cent increase, several of MTN’s new prices reflect a much higher percentage increase, leaving customers feeling misled.

 

For instance, the 15GB weekly plan jumped from N2,000 to N6,000, a 200 percent increase. Similarly, the 1.5TB plan rose from N150,000 to N240,000, far beyond the regulatory cap.

 

For the monthly plans, MTN 1.8GB now goes for N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000; the 20GB monthly plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, among others.

 

Text messaging on the network has also increased to N6.00 reflecting the 50 per cent hike, while hike in voice calls rates are yet to be ascertained.

 

This has led to widespread calls for MTN to provide more transparency about its pricing calculations.

 

On ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), users have criticised the move as exploitative. One user, @limasyre, wrote; “How did we go from a 50 percent NCC-approved hike to a 200 percent increase on some plans? Nigerians are being overcharged!”

 

Another, @AfrokonnectNG, lamented:”Internet access is a necessity, not a luxury. This move hurts students, remote workers, and small businesses the most.”

 

Other mobile operators comprising Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile are yet to update their data prices as at the time of filing this report.

 

While MTN has taken the lead in adjusting its tariffs, other major telecom providers like Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile have yet to implement similar changes.

 

However, industry analysts predict that they may soon follow suit, citing the same economic pressures.

 

MTN company executives argue that the new pricing structure is necessary to maintain network expansion, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure continued service quality.

 

MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola reassured subscribers that the tariff hike would ultimately benefit them, stating, “We understand the concerns of our customers, but this adjustment is essential for the long-term sustainability of telecom services in Nigeria. We remain committed to improving network quality and delivering value despite economic challenges.”

 

Toriola pointed to the rising cost of maintaining telecom infrastructure, especially given the foreign exchange crisis that has driven up the price of imported equipment and energy costs needed to power base stations across the country.

Nigeria’s largest telecom operator, MTN, has commenced the gradual implementation of a 50 per cent tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission in January.

The adjustment, which is evident in the updated prices of data plans, leaves call and SMS rates unaffected for the time being.

A senior executive from MTN, who doesn’t want to be mentioned, confirmed the development in a conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday.

“Yes, we’ve started updating our price lists.

“However, this process is gradual, and we haven’t completed it for all products yet”, the source said.

The price adjustments primarily affect several data plans.

For instance, checks by our correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the 1.5GB monthly plan, previously priced at N1,000, has been replaced by a 1.8GB plan now costing N1,500.

The 15GB plan has increased from N4,500 to N6,500, while the 20GB plan now costs N7,500, up from N5,500.

Larger data bundles have seen even steeper increases.

The 1.5 terabyte 90-day plan has risen from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan is now priced at N120,000, up from N75,000, according to the updated list.

The NCC announced the tariff hike on January 20, citing rising operational costs and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications sector.

The Commission, through its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, underscored that the decision aligns with its regulatory mandate under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

However, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers has voiced its opposition, threatening legal action against the approved tariff increase.

NATCOMS argued that the hike be reversed to 10 per cent.

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives will, on Wednesday, January 29, hold an interactive meeting with the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and multinational corporation and mobile telecommunications provider, MTN Group Limited, over Enugu-Onitsha Expressway rehabilitation project.

 

Recall that on January 25, a PMS-laden truck collided with some vehicles on the road and erupted in flames, leading to casualties.

 

According to reports, the road project is being funded through the MTN tax credit scheme and has been under rehabilitation for over 15 years, claiming hundreds of lives in the past years.

 

Federal lawmakers from Anambra and Enugu States led by the Senate Minority Whip, Senatoe Osita Ngwu, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Works, while commending him for the remarkable strides made in transforming the nation’s infrastructure landscape, notified him of the meeting, which will also have MTN representatives in attendance.

 

In the letter jointly signed by Senator Ngwu, Senatoe Victor Umeh, Hon. Paschal Agbodike and Hon. Sam Atu, the lawmakers said the fulcrum of the meeting will be to explore ways to expedite the commencement of work on the second lane of the expressway and completion of the entire project, ensuring its timely delivery.

 

The letter reads in part, “We wish to express our profound appreciation and commendation for the remarkable strides your ministry has made in transforming the nation’s infrastructure landscape. The unprecedented scale of road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance across the country is a testament to your leadership and commitment to delivering on the government’s promises. As members of the Anambra and Enugu Caucus of the National Assembly, we are particularly grateful for the attention given to the South-East region, and we acknowledge the efforts being made to address the region’s infrastructure deficits.

 

“However, we would like to bring to your attention the ongoing rehabilitation of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, funded by MTN through the tax credit scheme. As you may be aware, the project has been plagued by dclays, resulting in incessant accidents and loss of lives, including the recent fuel tanker incident along Ugwuonyeama (Enugu End) Expressway that claimed several lives. We believe a discussion with your office would be beneficial in addressing our constituents’ concerns and finding solutions to the project’s problems. We would like to explore ways to expedite the commencement of work on the second lane and completion of the entire project, ensuring its timely delivery.”

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nigeria’s leading telecommunication services provider MTN, and advanced weather intelligence company, Tomorrow.io, to develop a Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) System aimed at delivering location-specific, actionable weather advisories to Nigerian farmers via mobile SMS.

The partnership signed on Friday, which is in line with the United Nations (UN) goal of ensuring early warning systems for all would serve the need of strengthening climate resilience in Nigeria, particularly in the agricultural sector.

 

Speaking at the MoU signing at NiMet headquarters in Abuja, the director general and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike said that the overall aim of the partnership is to improve agricultural productivity and resilience by providing localized, timely weather advisories.

 

He said, “This aligns with the food security agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government”.

 

Anosike further said that the choice of MTN and Tomorrow.io is strategic as they are leaders in their respective sectors.

 

“I am excited welcoming the MTN CEO, Karl Toriola, the officials Shoyinka Shodunke (chief information officer), Tobechukwu Okigbo (chief corporate services and sustainability officer), and the Tomorrow.io team to NiMet for this groundbreaking MoU signing that will impact not only the agricultural sector but the entire Nigerian economy. My primary objective has been to open up the space of the business of climate science to the private sector so that they will begin to understand the incredible impact of climate science”, he concluded.

 

Responding, Toriola said that MTN is always looking for ways to support government agencies and the Nigerian public in general.

 

Under the terms of the MoU, the parties shall collaborate in the development, deployment, and testing of the DCAS platform, which will provide weather-based advisories to farmers through SMS notifications.

 

 

South African-owned mobile telecommunications provider, MTN Group announced that it has concluded the sale of its Guinea operations to the State of Guinea, marking its final exit from the market.

According to a statement from the Group, the sale was concluded on December 30, 2024, saying the transaction aligns with its focus on portfolio optimisation and simplification which is part of its Ambition 2025 strategy.

MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita while commenting on the sale of the business stated, “This milestone marks a new phase for MTN Guinea-Conakry under local ownership, and MTN thanks the staff, customers, regulators and broader stakeholders in Guinea for the support during the time MTN has been operational in the country.

“Concluding this transaction is in line with the strategy to simplify the portfolio and allocating capital to markets where we can make a difference as MTN and deliver long-term growth and returns.”

MTN’s decision to exit the Guinea market stems from its assessment of how the portfolio fits within its risk management framework.

Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg in August 2024, Mupita explained the group’s rationale for disposing of operations in Guinea-Conakry and Guinea-Bissau.

“Given our risk management framework and the things we need, some markets are very difficult. We’re not the best owners of those businesses because they’re subscale or they’re small, and they are not going to be able to fund their own growth,” Mupita shared in remarks reported by Connecting Africa.

He elaborated that the group evaluates each market’s ability to fund its growth sustainably, adding that the moment a business sustainably cannot fund its own growth for whatever reason, “we have to assess portfolio fit yes or no.”

He noted that they were difficult decisions to make because “they involve colleagues, but they are necessary all the same.”

For Guinea-Conakry and Guinea-Bissau, the group determined that even with significant growth in revenue or profits, MTN was not the best owner of these operations.

“We looked at them and said, even if they triple their revenue or their profits, are we the best owners of these businesses? And the answer was no, so we said let’s engage with third parties,” Mupita stated.