Abuja residents have voiced their frustration over MTN and Airtel’s recent hike in data prices, with many struggling to keep up with the increased cost of staying connected.

Some have attempted to switch to alternatives like Starlink and FibreOne, only to be met with disappointing network quality and frequent disruptions.

“I used to buy 20GB for ₦5,000, now that same ₦5,000 barely gets me 10GB,” says Chika, a digital marketer in Abuja. “How do they expect us to survive? Everything is expensive already, now even browsing is luxury!”
Airtel users are also feeling the pinch.

“Collins, a student at the University of Abuja, laments, “Airtel used to be my go-to, but now their 2GB plan that used to last me two days is finishing in a few hours. Are they now measuring data like pure water sachets?”

In search of better options, some Abuja residents have migrated to Starlink or FibreOne, but their experiences haven’t been entirely smooth.

“I sold my kidney…I mean, I paid over ₦900k to get Starlink,” joked Femi, a remote worker whose work depends on stable internet. “It was working fine at first, but now? The connection is either crawling or completely off. What exactly did I pay for?”

Another resident, Aisha who switched to FibreOne for a better experience said “They convinced me that fibre internet is more stable. My dear, it’s like I paid for frustration. Anytime there’s rain or even just bad vibes in the atmosphere, my network disappears.”

With MTN and Airtel increasing prices and Starlink and FibreOne struggling with congestion, many Abuja residents feel stuck.

“If you like switch to Starlink, FibreOne, or even build your own personal satellite, you’ll still see ‘No Network’ at some point,” said Uche, a frustrated tech enthusiast. “At this point, I think the best solution is to just relocate to Elon Musk’s house.”

For now, Nigerians are left with no choice but to either pay the high prices or brace themselves for inconsistent internet service. And with no clear improvement in sight, the frustration is only growing