Data Depletion Complaints in Nigeria: What the NCC Numbers Say
Nigerians filed 23,396 data depletion complaints with the NCC in the first half of 2026. Who got the most, why data seems to vanish, and how to check and complain.
4 min readUpdated
The short answer
Nigerians filed 23,396 data depletion complaints with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) between January and June 2026. MTN had 12,212 of them, Airtel 9,806 and Glo 1,373.
Before you complain, check what your own phone used. Many "vanished" bundles turn out to be updates, backups, video or a hotspot. If the numbers still don't add up, complain to your network first, then escalate to the NCC on 622.
What the numbers say
- 23,396 data depletion complaints in the first half of 2026.
- MTN: 12,212, about 52% of the total. MTN is also the biggest network, with over 100 million active lines.
- Airtel: 9,806. Together, MTN and Airtel account for about 94% of the complaints.
- Glo: 1,373.
A complaint is not proof that data was taken. It means a customer believed their data went faster than it should have. That is exactly why it helps to have your own record.
Why data seems to disappear
The NCC itself points to the same usual causes:
- Automatic app updates that run on mobile data, often at night.
- Background activity: photo and chat backups, cloud sync, apps refreshing their feeds.
- Video and autoplay on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
- Your hotspot. A laptop or a friend's phone on your hotspot can use more in an hour than your phone uses in a day.
Check your own usage first
- 1Android: open Settings > Network & internet > Data usage (names vary by phone) to see mobile data by app for the current cycle.
- 2iPhone: open Settings > Mobile Data and scroll for the per-app list. The total runs from the last reset, not this month.
- 3Compare that number with what your network says you used, in its app or balance message.
- 4Write down the date, time, bundle size and balance each time something looks wrong. Screenshots help.
How to complain
- 1Contact your network first (customer care line, app or social media) and keep the complaint number they give you.
- 2If it is not resolved, call the NCC toll-free line 622 with that complaint number.
- 3You can also use the NCC's online consumer complaints portal on ncc.gov.ng.
Summary
- NCC: 23,396 data depletion complaints from January to June 2026.
- MTN 12,212, Airtel 9,806, Glo 1,373.
- Updates, backups, video and hotspots explain most fast-finishing bundles.
- Check your own usage, complain to your network, then escalate to the NCC on 622.