By Elvis Eromosele
Experts say that the world is more interconnected today than at any point in human history. Appreciation for this rests squarely on mobile phones. Those small portable devices have transcended their role as communication tools. They now serve as the most pivotal entry point into the digital economy. In Nigeria, with its dynamic population and rapid internet adoption, smartphones are the linchpin of financial access, entrepreneurship, education, and health.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), active mobile subscriptions stood at approximately 169.33 million as of July 2025, with teledensity hovering around 78.11 per cent. The commission explains that the removal of Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) that were not linked to verifiable National Identification Numbers (NINs) in 2024, along with the rectification of a major discrepancy by a Mobile Network Operator, led to a significant drop in Nigeria’s telecoms subscriber base.
On the internet front, Nigeria recorded around 138 million internet subscribers by July 2025, with broadband penetration at 48.01 per cent.
Yet despite widespread mobile infrastructure, 60 per cent of Nigerians with 4G coverage still do not use mobile internet, according to GSMA. Only about 19 per cent use mobile internet via smartphones, while another eight per cent access it through smart feature phones. GSMA terms this a “usage gap,” where even within coverage areas, millions remain offline, mainly due to device affordability, digital skills, and security or cost concerns.
With smartphone penetration at 59 per cent in urban areas and a mere 26 per cent in rural sectors, access remains a chasm between regions. Economic pressures, including inflation and naira depreciation, have intensified inequality in access. The prices of smartphones, like almost everything else, have shot through the roof. In response, Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) and Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) models like TRANSSION’s EasyBuy have emerged as powerful enablers, offering long-term instalment plans to ease upfront costs.
These initiatives are especially critical in low-income and rural areas, empowering youths, small businesses, and students to access smartphones and thus the digital ecosystem.
Bridging the device affordability gap delivers profound outcomes; for one, it would boost financial inclusion. Today, smartphones unlock mobile money, digital wallets, and banking services, empowering millions outside traditional banking. Think Moniepoint and Opay.
Two, it drives entrepreneurship. Digital tools allow SMEs and informal traders to market, sell, and receive payments across Nigeria and beyond. Then there is education. Yes, smartphones enable access to online learning platforms, resources, and virtual classrooms, a lifeline particularly evident post-pandemic.
In addition, smartphones are today an indispensable factor in healthcare, practice and delivery. Telemedicine and health apps extend medical access to underserved areas. Patients share health concerns and get counselled with some drugs prescribed virtually. My wife is an Optometrist, I have lost count of the number of times patients have sent her pictures of their eyes (inflamed, red or swollen) to “help look”.
Besides, smartphones generate employment. From gig economy apps to logistics, mobile access is opening pathways to new job categories. Retail arbitrage is gaining currency, precisely because of growing smartphone access.
The reality is that when more Nigerians own smartphones, telecom firms see increased data usage and subscriptions; fintech, e-commerce, and digital services sectors gain scale; job creation in tech and logistics rises, and government revenues benefit through enhanced digital economic activity.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that the ICT sector contributed 17.68 per cent to GDP in Q4 2024. Experts envisage that with further digitalisation across key sectors, it has the potential to add another two percentage points by 2028.
To maximise impact, a coordinated approach is essential.
First and foremost, the Nigerian government could reduce device import duties and offer subsidies to expand affordability. This is the true policy support.
Secondly, infrastructure investment is key. This means that telecom operators must continue expanding broadband, particularly 4G and rollout of 5G, which saw 2.81 per cent adoption as of April 2025 (about 4.05 million users) while 4G remains dominant at 49.27 per cent.
Thirdly, the government, through relevant agencies, must increase digital literacy campaigns. Targeted programs should teach how to use mobile internet safely and effectively, especially in underserved areas. The NCC has its job cut out for it here.
Moreover, it is time to scale financing models. We could start by expanding BNPL solutions like EasyBuy to reach more rural and low-income users.
Furthermore, there must be a conscientious effort to boost local content development. The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy should encourage digital services and apps tailored to local needs, such as agriculture, health, and education, to increase engagement.
Mobile phones are more than devices; they are instruments of transformation. By enabling access through financing models like EasyBuy, Nigeria can unlock digital inclusion across socio-economic strata, drive innovation, and boost sustainable economic growth. In a world where connectivity is currency, investing in mobiles isn’t optional; it’s the smartest bet for sustainable growth. Policymakers, businesses, and philanthropists must seize this moment to wire the future, one phone at a time.
As smartphone adoption rises, we are not just connecting more people; we are empowering their potential and reshaping the country’s economic future. The digital revolution awaits; let’s make it inclusive.
Eromosele, a corporate communication professional and sustainability reporting enthusiast, wrote via elviseroms@gmail.com
