Nigeria’s data consumption surged by almost 47 per cent in 12 months to 1.6 million terabytes in July 2026, as broadband penetration remained at 57.4 per cent against a national target of 70 per cent, underscoring the urgent need for massive investment in digital infrastructure, affordable devices and reliable power.

Against this backdrop, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla, has called for accelerated deployment of the planned 90,000-kilometre Project BRIDGE fibre backbone, longer-term infrastructure financing and sweeping reforms to unlock investment and expand meaningful connectivity across the country.

The call followed the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum 2026, held in Abuja from September 29 to 30, where stakeholders warned that Nigeria’s digital infrastructure must keep pace with rapidly rising demand, with telecommunications subscriptions projected to grow from about 195 million to 350 million over the next 10 to 15 years.

The forum’s communiqué highlighted a widening gap between network coverage and actual digital access. Although mobile broadband covers about 90 per cent of Nigerians, smartphone ownership stands at just 27 per cent, leaving device affordability, digital skills and trust among the major barriers to greater broadband adoption.

The economic stakes are significant. Telecommunications and information services accounted for 9.72 per cent of Nigeria’s real gross domestic product in the second quarter of 2026, while infrastructure financing in the country grew from less than N70 billion in 2004 to N19.4 trillion in 2025.

Participants argued that unlocking the next phase of digital growth would require long-tenor naira financing for infrastructure assets with lifespans of 20 to 30 years, coordinated investment in power and connectivity, and more predictable policies at federal and state levels.

Held under the theme, “Unlocking Infrastructure Investment through Data, Transparency and Partnerships,” the forum brought together government officials, regulators, investors, development finance institutions, telecommunications operators and infrastructure providers to identify investment opportunities and agree on practical measures to close Nigeria’s connectivity gaps.