Free internet from the Federal Government sounds brilliant, right? But what if that freebie only lasts you 15 minutes on Zoom?

From October 1st, students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions are meant to start getting 100MB of free data daily to help with digital learning. The intention is good. The reaction? Not so much.

We went state by state – from Abuja to Enugu, Rivers to Lagos – and the message is loud and clear: thank you, but it’s not enough. Here’s why it matters.

Let’s put this in context.

The internet is no longer a luxury for Nigerian students – it is the classroom. Lecture notes are on WhatsApp, research is on Google Scholar, assignments need AI tools, and medical students live on YouTube tutorials.

But data is expensive. According to the NCC, average data consumption has more than doubled in the last two years, while a recent survey shows Nigerian students spend between 15GB and 30GB a month just to keep up. At today’s rates, that’s anywhere from ₦10,000 to ₦35,000 monthly. For many families, that’s more than food money.

Historically, this isn’t the first intervention. We’ve had NELFUND student loans, subsidised tablets under previous administrations, and campus Wi-Fi promises that never quite connected. This 100MB plan is the latest attempt to close the digital divide, but students say it feels like 2010 solution for a 2026 problem. To put it in perspective – 100MB will barely cover one hour of Google Meet or two short video lectures.

So, is it a start or a false start? We asked students directly.

In Abuja, the mood was mixed. Some welcomed the gesture, but most did the maths – and it didn’t add up.

Students told cbinews.tv that their academic lives run on data, and 100MB disappears before your first assignment does.

For Joy Chiwendu, who already spends about ₦10,000 monthly on data, the government should think bigger – direct financial support.

And then there’s Kolawole Oluwatobiloba. He says he burns up to ₦35,000 on data because bundles don’t even last the 30 days telcos promise. His fix? Don’t just give us data, fix our libraries.

Businessman James Emiapobono, who buys data for his child in school, was blunt. He can afford 5GB a day for his kid. 100MB is inadequate.

At the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT Enugu, the human cost is clear. This is where cbinews.tv met students who are genuinely struggling.

Ugochukwu Ifeanyi, an Architectural Technology student, welcomed it – especially for students who can’t afford data – but says with AI tools now essential for research, the allocation must go up.

Mass Communication student Nkechinyere Stephanie offered a more sustainable idea – forget the daily token, give us campus Wi-Fi that actually works.

For Chioma Judith, the conversation is bigger than data. As a Mass Comm student, she says government should create jobs for graduates, especially NELFUND beneficiaries who will soon have to repay loans.

Chukwu Chidera and fellow NELFUND beneficiary Nzubechukwu Umeh both praised NELFUND but said 100MB doesn’t scratch the surface. Nzubechukwu added that even getting to class is a struggle because of transport costs.

Lecturers we spoke to quietly agreed – 100MB is not realistic.

And for parents like Mr Nnaji Frank, a security personnel at the institution with a daughter in higher institution, data is just one bill. He told cbinews.tv the rising cost of education needs proper subsidisation.

At the University of Port Harcourt, the numbers are even starker. Students told cbinews.tv they use 15GB to 25GB monthly, some up to 30GB because of their courses.

Beyond quantity, they questioned sustainability. Why not dedicated student SIMs, subsidised bundles, or expanding NELFUND?

For medical students like Victory, who depend on videos for anatomy and procedures, 100MB is practically useless.

Lecturer Dr Justice Ewelie from Political Science cut to the chase: stop sharing megabytes, start building infrastructure. Campus-wide Wi-Fi, not monthly allowance.

Finally, to Lagos. CBI News reporter Femi Fabunmi gauged the pulse on campuses there, and it was the same chorus.

UNILAG alumnus Isaac Akuma praised the idea but said you can’t seriously browse educational sites on 100MB.

Moses Oluwafunmilayo, 200-level student at Federal College of Education, said it can hardly let you surf effectively.

Nonso Uzor, also 200-level at FCE Technical, had the most popular alternative: provide free Wi-Fi on campuses.

Joshua Aiyelabola, 200-level Electrical/Electronics, urged government to increase it if they want students to actually benefit.

This is more than free data. It’s about equity. If a student in Lagos can’t afford to join an online class, they are already behind. If a student in Enugu has to choose between data and transport fare, we have a deeper access crisis. Digital learning is now core to Nigeria’s education policy, but without affordable connectivity, NELFUND and other interventions risk falling short.

As the October 1 rollout approaches, the Federal Government has a choice. Stick with 100MB as a symbolic gesture, or listen to what students are actually saying: partner with telcos for subsidised student bundles, invest in solar-powered campus Wi-Fi, revamp physical libraries with digital hubs, and tie connectivity support to NELFUND.

The students appreciate being seen. Now they want to be heard properly.