Only ₦5 000 to burn? Choose MTN’s 20 GB weekly monster, the 10 GB monthly bundle with YouTube + calls, or stack six 2.5 GB dailies for 15 GB at ₦4 500. Our guide reveals real ₦/MB numbers, fast activation codes and smart tricks to make every megabyte last.
Five thousand naira is the price of a mid‑range smartphone battery, a Friday‑night shawarma binge—or enough MTN data to cover a productive month if you buy smart. It is large enough to command double‑digit gigabytes, yet small enough to fund from a single POS cash‑out. MTN’s February 2025 pricing overhaul reshuffled the bundle hierarchy; some favourites got more expensive, others vanished, and a brand‑new 20 GB weekly “Digital Channels Only” monster appeared.
This article updates every calculation: raw gigabytes, hidden bonuses, cost‑per‑MB, and how many times you must renew. By the end you’ll know exactly how to deploy one crisp blue ₦5 000 note—whether you stream TikTok Reels, play MLBB, or just need Zoom meetings to stop buffering.
Snapshot: Every MTN Bundle You Can Trigger With ₦5 000 (or Close)
# |
Path |
Core Data |
Extras |
Effective Days |
Total Spend |
₦/MB* |
A |
20 GB Weekly “Digital Channels Only” |
20 GB |
App‑only purchase |
7 |
₦5 000 |
₦0 .24 |
B |
10 GB Monthly |
10 GB |
200 MB YouTube Day + 2 GB Night + 10 bonus voice minutes |
30 |
₦4 500 |
₦0 .45 |
C |
12 GB (6 GB Weekly × 2) |
12 GB |
— |
14 |
₦5 000 |
₦0 .41 |
D |
15 GB (2.5 GB Daily × 6) |
15 GB |
— |
6 |
₦4 500 |
₦0 .29 |
E |
11 GB Weekly + 500 MB Daily safety net |
11 GB + 0.5 GB |
— |
8 |
₦4 000 |
₦0 .35 |
*Cost‑per‑MB is based solely on the core allowance, except where extras are clearly usable (YouTube Day/Night).
Key take‑away: Two radically different winners emerge:
- Raw volume per naira: six × 2.5 GB daily bursts for ₦4 500 (15 GB, ₦0.29/MB).
- Single‑payment convenience: 10 GB monthly at ₦4 500; lower volume but zero mid‑month renewals.
Deep Dive #1 – The 20 GB Weekly (₦5 000)
Item |
Details |
Plan code |
Listed as 20 GB Weekly – Digital Channels Only |
Price |
₦5 000 |
USSD / SMS |
*312# → “Special Bundles” (only via MyMTN App or SmartSMSSolutions); there is no 312 SMS short‑code |
Validity |
7 days |
Cost‑per‑MB |
₦0.24 (best of any one‑click bundle under ₦10 000) |
Who should choose it?
- Heavy one‑week streamers: binge an entire K‑drama season.
- Remote workers with short‑term sprints: project uploads, nightly builds.
- Travellers needing temporary broadband replacement.
Downsides
- App‑only purchase—no quick SMS in a low‑signal area.
- You must repeat the ₦5 000 hit every week to stay online (≈ ₦20 000/month).
Deep Dive #2 – The 10 GB Monthly (₦4 500)
Feature |
Value |
Bundle Name |
10 GB + 10 mins (Monthly) |
Price |
₦4 500 |
SMS / USSD |
SMS 147 → 312 |
Bonuses |
10 mins MTN talk, 200 MB YouTube All‑Day, 2 GB Night (11 p.m.–6 a.m.) |
Validity |
30 days |
Cost‑per‑MB (core only) |
₦0 .45 |
Why pick it?
- Single activation covers the whole month—zero mental load.
- Night and day YouTube perks offload video from the main quota.
- Voice minutes save you ₦200–₦300 in airtime top‑ups.
Why skip it?
- Pure ₦/MB value is worst among the ₦5 000 options.
- 10 GB can vanish quickly on 5 G unless you discipline streaming quality.
Mix‑and‑Match Strategy – Two 6 GB Weekly Bundles
Buying the 6 GB / ₦2 500 weekly pack on two consecutive Mondays delivers:
- 12 GB core data
- Two separate 7‑day clocks (lite rollover if you buy Week 2 before Week 1 expires)
- Total spend ₦5 000
- Cost‑per‑MB ₦0 .41
Perfect for: someone who wants more volume than the 10 GB monthly but can tolerate a fortnightly renewal and no bonuses.
Aggressive Data‑Burst Strategy – Six Daily 2.5 GB Packs
At 312# → Daily → ₂ .₅ GB → ₦750 you buy a 24‑hour 2.5 GB quota. Six of those spread across a project‑heavy week equals 15 GB for ₦4 500.
Real‑world use case
Day |
Scenario |
Data Bucket |
Mon |
OS & app updates, cloud backup |
2.5 GB |
Tue |
YouTube tutorial marathon |
2.5 GB |
Thu |
Zoom workshops |
2.5 GB |
Fri–Sun |
Gaming patches & Netflix |
7.5 GB (three packs) |
Pros: unbelievable ₦0.29/MB. Cons: you must remember to start each 24‑hour window early, or lose usable hours.
Activation & Purchase Warehouse
Plan |
SMS → 312 |
Direct USSD |
SmartSMSSolutions Path |
20 GB Weekly |
— |
*312# → “Special Bundles” |
“Weekly → 20 GB” |
10 GB Monthly |
147 |
*312*147# |
“Monthly → 10 GB” |
6 GB Weekly |
143 |
*312*143# |
“Weekly → 6 GB” |
2.5 GB Daily |
— |
*312# → Daily → 2.5 GB |
“Daily → 2.5 GB (₦750)” |
Pro tip: SmartSMSSolutions auto‑creates VAT receipts—handy for corporate reimbursements.
Five Data‑Saving Moves Worth Hundreds of MB
- Chrome Lite Mode on Android slashes webpage weight by up to 50 %.
- Instagram data saver (Settings → Account → Mobile Data) prevents autoplay.
- Windows Update “metered connection” flag pauses gigabyte‑scale patches until Wi‑Fi.
- WhatsApp media download: “Wi‑Fi only.”
- Stream at 480 p unless the screen is ≥ 15 inches; your eyes barely notice.
FAQ Corner (Quick‑fire)
Q |
A |
Can I rollover the weekly 20 GB? |
Only if you buy the same bundle before 11:59 p.m. on day 7. |
Is tethering allowed? |
Yes—MTN does not restrict hotspotting. |
Do YouTube bonuses count on YouTube Music? |
Yes, any traffic to *.googlevideo.com. |
Will streaming on 5 G drain faster? |
Same MBs, but higher bit‑rate defaults—stick to SD. |
Can I gift the 20 GB plan? |
Yes through SmartSMSSolutions “Send to Friend.” |
Conclusion — Two Winning Recipes for a Five‑Grand Budget
- Convenience first?
Pick the 10 GB Monthly (₦4 500) — add the night YouTube to get ~12.2 GB total and ignore renewals for 30 days. - Max data per naira?
Go wild with six daily 2.5 GB bursts (₦4 500) or leap on the 20 GB Weekly (₦5 000).
You’ll hit up to 4× the unit value of the monthly pack, but commit to more frequent purchases.
Either path can be activated in under 30 seconds via USSD or SmartSMSSolutions, works flawlessly on 5 G, and supports hotspot sharing. Your choice hinges on one question: Is your pain‑point renewal hassle or raw gigabytes? Decide, dial, and start streaming. Your single blue note will thank you.