The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported a significant increase in Nigeria's data consumption, rising by nearly 47% year-on-year to 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026. This represents a substantial growth from 1.13 million terabytes recorded in July 2025. The surge in data consumption underscores the growing demand for reliable digital connectivity across the country.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed this information at the opening of the inaugural Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja. He emphasized that sustained investment would be required to expand telecommunications networks and improve the quality of services for existing users. The increasing use of cloud services and artificial intelligence is expected to further deepen Nigerians' dependence on reliable connectivity.
According to Dr. Maida, the NCC has been working to create a more conducive environment for investment in the telecommunications sector. The 2025 tariff adjustment addressed financial pressures on operators and their capacity to invest, with the expectation of improved service delivery to consumers. Additionally, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure is a step towards strengthening protection for critical telecom assets.
The NCC is also engaging state governments on Right of Way issues to reduce the cost and difficulties associated with network deployment. However, Dr. Maida acknowledged that more work is needed to address practical challenges affecting telecommunications infrastructure deployment. The Commission is making evidence-based decision-making central to its regulatory approach to provide investors with clearer information on investment opportunities and greater confidence in regulatory decisions.
The NCC is collaborating with Swedfund and Ookla to provide independent data on the quality of connectivity experienced by Nigerians. The Commission is combining network performance data with consumer complaints and information on operators' interventions to identify service gaps and areas requiring further investment. This includes the use of data from the Consumer Data Lab, funded by the Gates Foundation and developed in collaboration with Innovations for Poverty Action.
The Consumer Data Lab brings together Ookla data, consumer complaints, and operators' intervention data on a dashboard, enabling the Commission to examine service issues by location and demographic group. This platform allows the NCC to assess interventions and determine areas requiring further network deployment or upgrades. The Commission is using this data to inform its regulatory decisions and ensure that investments in digital connectivity translate into better opportunities for Nigerians.
The two-day Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum, held in Abuja, focuses on digital connectivity investment opportunities across Nigeria. The forum, organized in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla, aims to identify viable projects, raise challenges affecting their implementation, and develop practical partnerships to move them forward. The ultimate objective is to ensure that investments in digital connectivity lead to better opportunities for Nigerians to earn a living, learn, and access essential services.
Key points
- Nigeria's data consumption rose by 47% year-on-year to 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026.
- The NCC is working to create a more conducive environment for investment in the telecommunications sector.
- The Commission is using data from the Consumer Data Lab to inform its regulatory decisions and ensure that investments in digital connectivity translate into better opportunities for Nigerians.
