Nigeria’s broadband penetration has increased to 54.3 per cent following aggressive network expansion by telecommunications operators, the Nigerian Communications Commission has said.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2026 Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications held in Lagos.
The NCC organised the workshop in partnership with the National Judicial Institute.
Broadband Access Expands Across Nigeria
Speaking at the event, Maida said broadband penetration rose from 47.7 per cent in 2025 to 54.3 per cent in 2026. He linked the growth to major investments by telecom operators aimed at improving internet access and service quality nationwide.
The workshop carried the theme, “Adjudicating in the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety.”
According to Maida, telecom operators invested more than $1bn in network expansion in 2025 alone. The investments supported the rollout of thousands of additional telecom sites across the country.
He said the expansion improved network coverage, boosted service quality and supported rising demand for digital services.
“Nigeria is firmly on the path of digital transformation,” Maida said.
He noted that the rapid growth of digital payments, e-commerce platforms, startups and emerging technologies continued to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
Nigerians Consume More Internet Data
Maida also revealed that internet data consumption rose sharply over the past year.
According to him, Nigerians consumed more than 1.42 million terabytes of data in March 2026. In March 2025, total consumption stood at 995,000 terabytes.
The latest figures translate to an average daily usage of about 45,800 terabytes. Maida said this volume equals more than 15 million hours of high-definition video streaming every day.
By comparison, Nigerians consumed about 32,100 terabytes daily during the same period last year. That figure represented roughly 10.7 million hours of HD video streaming per day.
“This means Nigerians are now using the equivalent of about 4.6 million more hours of HD video every day than they did a year ago,” he said.
NCC Raises Alarm Over Telecom Infrastructure Attacks
Despite the sector’s growth, Maida warned that vandalism and equipment theft still threaten telecom infrastructure across the country.
He said fibre cuts, sabotage and theft continue to disrupt services for millions of Nigerians and weaken national security.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently designated telecommunications infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure. The move aims to strengthen protection for assets considered vital to national security and economic stability.
“Despite this, we continue to witness disturbing levels of vandalism, fibre cuts, theft of equipment, and sabotage,” Maida said.
He added that the NCC now works closely with security agencies and telecom operators to improve infrastructure protection nationwide.
According to him, the commission has introduced nationwide asset mapping, public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement measures.
Maida also said collaboration between the NCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser has disrupted criminal groups involved in telecom equipment theft and resale.
NCC Targets SIM Fraud and Cybercrime
The NCC boss also raised concerns over rising cybercrime and identity fraud linked to telecommunications services.
He said the commission introduced the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System to combat SIM-related fraud and identity abuse.
Maida disclosed that the NCC had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Central Bank of Nigeria to help financial institutions tackle electronic fraud linked to mobile phone numbers.
He added that the partnership would later extend to agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Identity Management Commission.
Judiciary Has Key Role in Nigeria’s Digital Future
Maida also warned about the dangers tied to rising internet usage. He listed misinformation, hate speech, cybersecurity threats and data privacy breaches among the growing concerns.
According to him, the NCC recently reviewed its Internet Code of Practice to promote responsible internet governance while supporting innovation and investment.
Addressing judges at the workshop, Maida said the judiciary would play a major role in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
He noted that court decisions could influence investor confidence, regulatory stability and public trust in the country’s digital ecosystem.
The workshop also featured discussions on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, internet governance, subscriber identity management and telecommunications infrastructure resilience.
