How do I share data on MTN Nigeria via USSD?
Dial *312*[recipient's number]*[data amount]# on the MTN line you're sending from. Replace the bracketed parts with the actual number and amount. For example, *312*08031234567*500# transfers 500MB to that number.
- Dial *312*[recipient's number]*[data amount]# and press call.
- Confirm the transfer when the on-screen prompt shows the recipient's number and the data amount.
- Wait for the confirmation SMS. Both you and the recipient get one once the transfer completes.
MTN's official data-gifting page lists the transferable amounts as 100MB, 200MB, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB and 5GB. You can only send an amount you actually have available. The transfer draws from your own active data balance, not a separate gifting wallet.
How do I share data on MTN using SMS?
Open your messaging app and text Transfer [recipient's number] [data amount] to 312. For example, texting Transfer 08031234567 100 to 312 sends 100MB.
- No spaces other than the two shown between "Transfer", the number, and the amount.
- Use the full 11-digit Nigerian number, starting with 0.
- The amount is a plain number in MB (100, 200, 500) or GB shorthand where MTN's menu supports it.
This does the same thing as the USSD method. It's a matter of preference. SMS is useful if *312# is congested or your phone struggles with USSD menus.
How do I share data on MTN using the myMTN app?
- Open the myMTN app and log in with your MTN number.
- Tap the "Share" or "Gift" option on the home screen.
- Select "Data" as what you're sharing.
- Choose the recipient from your contacts or type their number.
- Pick the data amount and confirm. No PIN is required, just the recipient's number and your choice of plan.
The app shows your current data balance before you send, so you can see immediately whether you have enough to share and still meet MTN's minimum-retention rule below.
What are MTN's data-sharing limits?
- Daily cap: up to 5GB in transfers per day.
- Monthly cap: up to 10 separate transfers per month.
- Minimum retention: you must keep at least 100MB in your own balance after every transfer. MTN blocks a transfer that would take you below that.
- Available amounts per transfer: 100MB, 200MB, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB or 5GB.
If a transfer fails without explanation, the most common cause is one of these limits. Check your remaining daily allowance or your current balance before retrying.
How do I share data on Airtel Nigeria via USSD?
Airtel's data-sharing flow works through its main data menu rather than a single-string transfer code. Dial *312#, pick a data plan, then choose the option to buy it for someone else instead of yourself.
- Dial *312# on your Airtel line.
- Select the data plan you want to send. This is a new bundle for the recipient, not a split of your own balance.
- Choose "Buy for others" from the purchase options.
- Enter the recipient's Airtel number and confirm the purchase.
This is a meaningful difference from MTN: Airtel's "Buy for others" purchases a fresh bundle for the recipient at the plan's normal price, rather than transferring data out of your own active balance.
How do I share data on Airtel using the MyAirtel app?
- Open the MyAirtel app and log in.
- Go to the Data section and select a bundle.
- Choose "Buy for someone else" (or the equivalent gifting option shown in the app).
- Enter the recipient's Airtel number, confirm payment, and complete the purchase.
If the in-app option isn't visible on your account, the *312# USSD route above works as a fallback. Airtel occasionally changes which self-care features it surfaces in the app first.
MTN vs Airtel: how does data sharing compare?
| What | MTN | Airtel |
|---|---|---|
| USSD code | *312*[number]*[amount]# | *312# then "Buy for others" |
| What's sent | Data from your own active balance | A new bundle purchased for the recipient |
| Costs you | Nothing extra. It's data you already paid for | The price of the bundle you're buying them |
| SMS option | Yes: "Transfer [number] [amount]" to 312 | Not confirmed on Airtel's official pages; use USSD or the app |
| Daily/monthly limit | 5GB/day, 10 transfers/month | No published cap. Limited by the bundle sizes on offer |
The practical takeaway: on MTN you're giving away data you already have, so it's free to you as long as you stay within the limits. On Airtel you're buying the recipient a bundle, so it costs whatever that bundle costs.
People also ask
Can I share data on MTN to a non-MTN number?
No. Both MTN's transfer code and the SMS method only work between MTN numbers. To send data to an Airtel, Glo or 9mobile number, you'd need to buy the recipient a bundle directly on their own network, or send them airtime to buy their own data.
Why did my MTN data transfer fail?
The most common reasons are exceeding the 5GB daily cap, hitting the 10-transfers-a-month limit, or the transfer would take your own balance below the 100MB minimum MTN requires you to keep. Check your balance and try a smaller amount.
Does sharing data on Airtel use my own bundle?
No. Airtel's "Buy for others" purchases a separate new bundle for the recipient at the bundle's normal price. It does not reduce your own active data balance the way MTN's transfer does.
Is "transfer data" the same as "share data"?
On MTN, yes, the *312*[number]*[amount]# code above is a genuine transfer out of your own balance. On Airtel, what's documented here is gifting (a new bundle bought for the recipient), not a transfer from your own balance. A separate Airtel "Data Me2U" transfer feature is mentioned in some places online, but Airtel's own site doesn't confirm it clearly enough for us to publish exact steps.