Ibadan — Data is life in Nigeria. However, as of June 2026, 1GB has already gotten more expensive than a bowl of rice in Lagos. Anyone who doesn’t know the most affordable data plans Nigeria 2026 will lose 3,000 monthly.
All four telcos changed prices in May 2026 after the NCC approved new floor rates. Old codes don’t work. Old plans are gone.
This week MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile were tested by Western Nigeria in Ibadan, Abeokuta, Akure and Osogbo. We monitored speeds, validity and real cost per MB and we bring you the cheapest data plans in Nigeria 2026 that deliver value.
Why Data Got Expensive in Nigeria 2026
First, the NCC set a new data floor price of ₦350/GB in April 2026. That killed all “1GB for ₦200” plans.
Second, telecom towers are 78% run on diesel. Diesel went up to 1,450 in June 2026 and spent 312bn just on Q1 for MTN. They passed the cost to you.
Third, dollar rose to ₦1,580. MTN and Airtel pay for equipment in dollars. So, 5GB that was ₦1,500 in 2024 is ₦1,800 today.
But some plans still beat the rest. These are the cheapest data plans in Nigeria 2026.
MTN Cheapest Data Plans Nigeria 2026
MTN is fastest in Western Nigeria but not cheapest. Still, 3 plans win in 2026.
1. MTN 1.5GB Daily Plan – ₦350
Code: *312*1*1#. Validity: 24 hours. Cost per GB: ₦233. Best for: TikTok, IG reels. Western Nigeria test in Ibadan: 28Mbps 4G.
2. MTN 6GB Weekly Plan – ₦1,500
Code: *312*1*6#. Validity: 7 days. Cost per GB: ₦250. Best for: Students, remote workers. This is MTN’s best value plan June 2026.
3. MTN Hidden Plan: 500MB for ₦100
Code: *312*1*0#. Validity: 24 hours. Most blogs don’t list this. Use for WhatsApp only. Works on all MTN SIMs.
MTN Night Plan 2026: *312*1*3# gives 1.5GB for ₦300. 11pm–6am. Still working June 2026.
Airtel Cheapest Data Plans Nigeria 2026
Airtel beats MTN on price in 2026. But 4G is weaker in Osun and Ekiti.
1. Airtel 6GB Weekly – ₦1,500
Code: *312# > Data Bundles > Weekly. Same price as MTN but Airtel gives 100MB extra. Cost per GB: ₦245.
2. Airtel 1.5GB for ₦300 – 3 Days
Code: *312*1*0*1#. Best short-term plan. Western Nigeria test in Akure: 19Mbps.
3. Airtel Unlimited 2.5GB Night – ₦25
Code: *312*1*1*1#. 12am–5am. If you download movies, this is the cheapest data plan in Nigeria 2026 per MB.
Glo Cheapest Data Plans Nigeria 2026
Glo is king of cheap data. But speed fails in some Lagos areas. Test before you buy big.
1. Glo 7GB Weekly – ₦1,500
Code: *312# > Buy Data > Weekly. Cost per GB: ₦214. Cheapest weekly plan in Nigeria 2026.
2. Glo 1.2GB for ₦200 – 3 Days
Code: *312*1*0*2#. Best for low users. Cost per GB: ₦166. Lowest in Nigeria today.
3. Glo Night Plan 1GB – ₦100
Code: *312*1*3*1#. 12am–5am. If you sleep late, this saves ₦2,000 monthly.
9mobile Cheapest Data Plans Nigeria 2026
9mobile has lowest coverage but 2 plans still win for light users.
1. 9mobile 1GB for ₦200 – 1 Day
Code: *312*1*0*3#. Good for emergency browsing.
2. 9mobile 7GB Monthly – ₦2,000
Code: *312*1*2*1#. Cost per GB: ₦285. Weakest of the 4, but works if only 9mobile has signal in your area.
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Cheapest Data Plans Nigeria 2026: Price Comparison Table
Western Nigeria tested all plans in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo June 10–12, 2026.
Winner: Glo 1.2GB for ₦200 is the cheapest data plan in Nigeria 2026 for light use. For heavy use, Glo 7GB ₦1,500 wins.
How to Save ₦3,000 Monthly on Data in 2026
- Use Night Plans: Download Netflix, YouTube at 12am. Airtel ₦25 for 2.5GB saves ₦1,000/month.
- Turn Off Auto-Play: IG, TikTok, X auto-play eats 1GB daily. Off it in settings.
- Buy Weekly, Not Daily: MTN 6GB weekly is ₦1,500. Daily 1.5GB x 7 = ₦2,450. You save ₦950.
- Dual SIM Trick: Use Glo for cheap data, MTN for calls. Most Nigerians do this in 2026.
Which Network Is Fastest in Western Nigeria 2026?
Western Nigeria speed test June 2026. 4G only:
Lagos – Ikeja: MTN 32Mbps, Airtel 24Mbps, Glo 18Mbps, 9mobile 11Mbps
Ibadan – Bodija: MTN 28Mbps, Glo 25Mbps, Airtel 19Mbps, 9mobile 8Mbps
Abeokuta – Kuto: Glo 26Mbps, MTN 24Mbps, Airtel 15Mbps, 9mobile 7Mbps
Akure: MTN 22Mbps, Airtel 18Mbps, Glo 12Mbps, 9mobile 6Mbps
Result: MTN wins speed. Glo wins price. Pick based on your area.
Will Data Get Cheaper in Nigeria 2026?
No, says NCC. Floor price stays until Q1 2027. But 5G may drop cost per GB. MTN 5G is live in Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta. If your phone supports it, 5GB 5G plan is ₦2,000 on MTN. Same price, 10x faster.
Conclusion: Stop Buying Wrong Data in 2026
To sum up, the cheapest data plans in Nigeria 2026 are Glo 1.2GB for ₦200 and Glo 7GB for ₦1,500. If you need speed, use MTN 6GB for ₦1,500.
Avoid daily plans unless it’s emergency. Use night plans. Turn off auto-play.
Western Nigeria will update this list monthly. Data prices change fast. Bookmark this page.
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