By Moses Okorie
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reveled that the country has achieved roughly 48.81 percent broadband penetration with over 140 million Nigerians now having internet access.
This was made known by in a remarks by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, Wednesday, at the business roundtable on ‘Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure’ held at the NCC Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja.
According to him, “As of August 2025, Nigeria had achieved a broadband penetration rate of roughly 48.81% with over 140 million people having internet access. The ICT/telecom sector is already one of the leading contributors to Nigeria’s GDP. Research shows that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can drive approximately 1.38% GDP growth in developing economies so imagine what a 20%, 30%, 40% increase in broadband penetration would do: (there would be more billions in economic output, new jobs, new services, and innovation hubs across our states)”.
NCC said for individuals and small businesses, broadband access turns local markets into national and global ones, and transforms opportunities for Nigerian graduates from local to global digital earning possibilities.
“It transforms a state economy from being dependent on traditional revenue streams to fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem. Let us look at how this has impacted countries like Rwanda and India, for example. Rwanda has positioned itself as an African hub of digital services by investing heavily in backbone fibre and digital governance.
“India’s outsourcing and IT services industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars (worth over $240 billion annually), enabled largely by early and consistent investment in digital infrastructure and human capacity.
“With over 200 million people and a median age of 18, Nigeria can not only follow those trajectories but surpass them—if we equip our youth with reliable high- speed connectivity.
Maida said under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria is pursuing the ambitious targets of the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025).
According to him, this plan sets a clear path to achieve 70% broadband penetration by the end of 2025 and to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across the country.
“At the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we have translated this vision into deliberate and strategic action. We are driving broadband expansion, strengthening regulation, and safeguarding the industry—even in the face of a challenging operating environment”.
The NCC boss said his Commission has launched a broad public awareness drive, including TV and radio jingles, social media campaigns, and community engagement initiatives, to mobilise citizens in protecting telecom infrastructure, and that NCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser is deepening collaboration with sub-nationals and their institutions, as well as the judiciary—for deterrence and speedy prosecution.
The EVC said one of the most significant barriers to broadband deployment in Nigeria has been the high cost of Right of Way (RoW) fees charged by state governments, despite a resolution by the Nigerian Governors Forum fixing the rate at N145 per linear meter.
He added that the Commission intensified advocacy with states to reduce or waive these fees to accelerate broadband rollout. Within the past two years, five additional states—Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Benue, and Zamfara—have waived RoW fees entirely.
“This brings the total number of states ordering zero RoW charges to 11, while 17 states have capped it at N145 per metre. Our sustained engagement with state governments, including today’s gathering underscores our commitment to creating an enabling environment for broadband expansion”.