Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, over remarks concerning unlimited mobile data services.

During a press conference in Lagos titled “Data on Trial,” Toriola argued that unlimited data plans are generally not available around the world unless customers are willing to pay very high prices.

He also maintained that truly unlimited data is not practical on mobile networks because operators cannot sustain good service quality if all subscribers have unrestricted access to data at low cost.Reacting through a post on X, Sowore described the statement as false and misleading.

According to him, millions of consumers across different countries enjoy unlimited or near-unlimited broadband and mobile data services at prices that are more affordable when compared with local income levels.He argued that Nigerian telecom subscribers are paying more for services that often come with network challenges and lower quality.Sowore further accused telecom operators of relying on excuses while consumers continue to face tariff increases and service-related complaints.He insisted that Nigerians deserve affordable, reliable and consumer-friendly telecommunications services.

The activist also suggested that a nationwide protest against MTN could happen in the future, using the hashtag #OCCUPYMTN to express his dissatisfaction with the company’s position.The disagreement comes amid ongoing public debate about telecommunications pricing in Nigeria.MTN Nigeria and other operators have been defending tariff increases approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The regulator authorised increases of up to 50 percent in voice, SMS and data charges in early 2025, with operators citing inflation, naira depreciation and the need for continued investment in network infrastructure as reasons for the adjustments.