Susan Abayomi
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for stronger investment from both local and international investors to accelerate the expansion of digital infrastructure and improve broadband connectivity across Nigeria.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, made the call on September 29, 2026, at the maiden Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum held in Abuja.
The two-day forum, organised by the NCC in collaboration with Swedfund and Ookla, brought together regulators, investors, telecommunications operators, infrastructure providers, development finance institutions and other stakeholders to examine opportunities and challenges surrounding digital connectivity investment in Nigeria.
Maida said the increasing dependence of individuals, businesses, educational institutions and government services on digital technologies had made investment in reliable and resilient telecommunications infrastructure increasingly important.
According to him, Nigeria’s data consumption rose from approximately 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025 to about 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, representing an increase of nearly 47 per cent within one year.
He explained that sustaining the rapid growth in data usage would require continued investment in network expansion, infrastructure modernisation and improvements in quality of service.
The NCC chief executive noted that the country’s telecommunications growth over the past 25 years demonstrated the importance of sound policies, transparent regulation and investor confidence.
He said the Commission remained committed to creating an environment that would encourage investment while protecting consumers and promoting fair competition within the telecommunications industry.
Maida also pointed to several measures aimed at supporting infrastructure deployment and investor confidence, including the telecommunications tariff adjustment approved in 2025, engagements with state governments over Right of Way challenges and the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
He urged investors, development finance institutions, infrastructure companies and other industry players to explore emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s digital connectivity sector and work with the NCC to expand access across the country.
Speaking on the theme, “Connectivity and Competitiveness: Digital Infrastructure as a Driver of Investment Climate and Trade,” the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the quality of a country’s digital infrastructure increasingly influences its investment climate, competitiveness and participation in international trade.
Oduwole noted that digital platforms, data centres, private networks and secure data systems were becoming increasingly important to modern commerce and economic activity.
The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, also identified gaps in connectivity coverage, service quality, affordability and supporting infrastructure as areas requiring greater attention.
She said stronger collaboration between government, industry and investors would be necessary to address the challenges, adding that energy, cybersecurity and digital skills were also important to building a sustainable digital connectivity ecosystem.
Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the Director of the National Frequency Management Council, Adetunji Adeyemo, said reliable, affordable, resilient and accessible digital infrastructure remained essential to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Also speaking, Ookla’s Vice President, Sales, Middle East and Africa, Tristan Muhader, said connectivity had evolved beyond traditional communication and internet access to become an important foundation for economic and public activities.
She said Ookla’s collaboration with the NCC provides independent data on users’ connectivity experiences, helping stakeholders identify areas where infrastructure investment could have greater impact.
The NCC also highlighted its Consumer Data Lab, developed with Innovations for Poverty Action and funded by the Gates Foundation. The platform combines network performance information, consumer complaints and operators’ intervention reports to help the Commission analyse connectivity challenges and identify areas requiring further investment.
Maida said the use of data and evidence would help improve regulatory decisions, identify service gaps and give investors clearer insight into opportunities within Nigeria’s telecommunications market.
The forum is expected to further strengthen cooperation among government, investors, development partners and technology stakeholders as Nigeria seeks to expand digital connectivity and build an infrastructure base capable of supporting the country’s growing digital economy.
