MTN Nigeria has invited public review of its data billing and network operations to address growing complaints over rapid data depletion and rebuild customer trust. The engagement, tagged “Data on Trial,” was launched Saturday in Lagos.

Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN, said the session will let Nigerians independently examine how data is consumed and charged on the network. He explained the exercise aims to determine if there are system issues, customer misconceptions, or areas needing better education.

According to Okigbo, MTN used a similar transparent approach years ago when subscribers complained about unauthorized VAS subscriptions. The company then suspended affected services, submitted systems for regulatory checks, and introduced controls that restored confidence.

“We want Nigerians to tell us what is wrong, ask questions and help us identify issues so we can collectively find solutions,” Okigbo said. He added that trust is key in telecoms and customers use digital services more when billing processes are clear.

The public hearing will be streamed live to allow consumers and stakeholders nationwide to participate and question MTN officials directly. Five members of a “Prosecution Team” will be voted in by the public through social media polls to represent consumer concerns during the session.

MTN’s General Manager, Network Quality, Mike Ndukwe, also dismissed claims that operators arbitrarily deduct data. He explained consumption starts when users stream videos, browse, download files, or run background apps. He cited TikTok as an example, noting high-definition videos use several times more data than standard-definition, while autoplay, cloud backups, and hotspot tethering also drain bundles unnoticed.

Source: Punch news, The Sun.