MTN Nigeria's recent gesture of a N150 million cash gift to the victorious Super Falcons has been met with a mix of praise and sharp criticism from Nigerians. While the generous reward was intended to celebrate the team's historic tenth WAFCON title, it has also reignited public frustrations over the company's continuous increase in data and call rates.

The gift, presented at a celebratory breakfast hosted by MTN in Lagos, was met with gratitude from the team, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade expressing that the gesture made the players feel "valued, honored, and respected." However, a significant portion of the Nigerian public took to social media to question the timing and sincerity of the donation, juxtaposing the company's financial largesse with the economic hardship faced by its subscribers.

Many Nigerians have pointed to the incessant hikes in data and call rates as a major source of concern. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had approved a tariff adjustment of up to 50% for mobile network operators earlier this year. However, MTN's subsequent implementation of new rates led to widespread outrage. In some instances, subscribers reported price increases that far exceeded the 50% cap, with a 15GB data plan, for example, reportedly tripling in price from N2,000 to N6,000. Although MTN later apologized and reversed some of the more extreme hikes, the damage to public trust was already done.

This has fueled a long-standing belief among many Nigerians that MTN leverages its dominant market position to the detriment of its customers. With the largest subscriber base and an estimated 65% share of the telecom market's profits, MTN is often accused of operating with a monopolistic mindset. Critics argue that this lack of genuine competition allows the company to raise prices without fear of losing its customer base, as many feel they have no viable alternative that can offer the same network quality and coverage.

The public's reaction to the N150 million gift can be seen as a manifestation of this deep-seated frustration. While many agree that the Super Falcons deserve to be celebrated, they argue that a company like MTN should also prioritize fair pricing and quality service for the millions of Nigerians who rely on its network for daily communication, work, and business. The sentiment is that a company's corporate social responsibility should not come at the expense of its primary customers, who feel they are being squeezed to fund such public relations gestures as many agreed with the says "Na our data suffer am"

In essence, the N150 million gift to the Super Falcons has inadvertently become a lightning rod for the broader conversation about corporate accountability and consumer rights in Nigeria. The celebrations of the Super Falcons' victory are now intertwined with the public's ongoing demand for a more equitable and transparent telecommunications landscape.