In a digital era where every byte counts, a wave of frustration has swept across Nigeria, prompting a class action lawsuit against telecom giant, MTN Nigeria. The outcry centers on allegations of rapid, unexplained data depletion and what many describe as “phantom” data top-ups — charges without corresponding value. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
It all began with a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), where a user expressed eagerness to join any legal action targeting MTN’s data practices. “Too happy & available to join a class action against MTN Nigeria,” the user wrote, attaching a screenshot that seemingly showed suspicious data usage.
The post struck a chord. In no time, a Google Form began circulating, inviting aggrieved users to formally sign up for the lawsuit. The form’s introduction reads:
“This class action lawsuit addresses the victims of MTN, a network provider, who have experienced issues with false data top-ups and rapid data drainage.”
It goes further to highlight a key concern: Nigerians are reportedly spending more for less, with their data disappearing faster than what’s reasonably expected — especially when compared to data consumption norms in other countries.
The public response? Loud and passionate. The comments section of the original post quickly turned into a digital town hall meeting. Users across the board shared their grievances and echoed their readiness to hold MTN accountable.
Here are a few reactions that sum up the mood:
@okumaonome: “Why MTN specifically? Why not all of them? Because MTN would have been out of business if others were different.”
@akpoobomedamsel: “I’ll join. Enough of them robbing us in broad daylight.”
@JayAdediran: “Lol, a class action against MTN?? You have a better chance at sighting a polar bear in Nigeria than getting anywhere with the class action.”
@Ilaria174642458: “I did 3.2GB and checked my active bundle—only to find 2.5GB. I complained; they just started apologizing and saying empty things.”
@zaza_the_great: “One for Airtel, one for MTN. I’m willing and ready. Even if it comes to traditional methods, I’m in.”
@Zeem_Miles: “What should Airtel and 9mobile users do? Because those ones are on another level entirely.”
@Richjackhim: “I’m active too—this rubbish needs to stop.”
While some doubt the likelihood of success in such a lawsuit, the momentum is undeniably building. For many Nigerians, this isn’t just about data — it’s about accountability, transparency, and getting fair value in an economy already stretched thin.
