The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has strongly urged state governments and industry stakeholders to align on policies to accelerate broadband expansion, warning that hesitation could severely marginalise Nigeria’s youth and economy.
In a speech at a business roundtable on October 8, 2025, Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC Executive Vice Chairman framed connectivity as the new engine of prosperity, essential for everything from closing international business deals to national security.
Nigeria’s Broadband Progress and Economic Potential
Dr. Maida highlighted the significant economic potential of digital infrastructure:
- Current Penetration: As of August 2025, Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate stood at roughly 48.81 per cent, with over 140 million people having internet access.
- GDP Growth Potential: Citing research, Dr. Maida noted that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can drive approximately 1.38 per cent GDP growth in developing economies.
- National Goal: Under the current administration, Nigeria is pursuing the National Broadband Plan’s target of achieving 70 per cent penetration by the end of 2025 and deploying 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure.
Major Challenges Hindering Expansion
Despite this progress, the EVC identified two primary obstacles to reaching the national broadband goals:
1. Right of Way (RoW) Fees
Fragmented and high RoW charges imposed by state governments remain a significant barrier.
- The NCC has intensified advocacy to encourage states to adhere to the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) benchmark of ₦145 per linear meter or waive the fees entirely.
- Progress: To date, eleven (11) states have waived RoW fees entirely, and 17 states have capped the charge at the agreed-upon ₦145 per metre.
2. Vandalism and Infrastructure Attacks
The security of digital infrastructure remains a persistent threat:
- Incidents in 2025: Between January and August 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded:
- 19,384 fibre cut incidents.
- 3,241 cases of equipment theft.
- Over 19,000 cases of denials of access to telecom sites.
These attacks lead to prolonged outages, revenue losses, and higher security costs for operators.
Key Actions and Call to Action
The NCC is taking strategic steps to address these challenges:
- Critical National Infrastructure (CNII) Order: The Presidential Order signed in June 2024 guarantees the proactive protection of telecom infrastructure. The NCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) are tasked with its operationalization and have already dismantled major cartels responsible for equipment theft.
- Tariff Approval: The NCC approved cost-reflective tariffs, which has resulted in operators collectively committing to invest over $1 billion in additional rollout to expand broadband coverage and capacity.
- Call to States: Dr. Maida made several concrete requests to state governments, including:
- Adopting a 100 per cent RoW waiver statewide.
- Institutionalizing coordination between public works and operators (“dig-once” protocols).
- Supporting the CNII Presidential Order enforcement.
The EVC concluded by announcing two strategic tools to be launched by the NCC, namely, the Ease of Doing Business Portal and the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI), a transparent framework to measure and publish each state’s digital readiness.
