NCC seeks new investments as data consumption in Nigeria increases by 47%

The Nigerian Communications Commission has called for more investment in telecoms infrastructure as data consumption in Nigeria has increased by almost 47% in a year.

The Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja.

The forum, organized in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla, brought together government officials, investors, development finance institutions and telecommunications operators to explore financing opportunities for Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

Maida revealed that Nigerians consumed about 1.66 million terabytes of data in July 2026, compared to 1.13 million terabytes recorded in July 2025.

It said the increase represented nearly 47% growth in data consumption within 12 months, warning that sustained investment would be needed to prevent infrastructure falling behind rapidly growing demand.

“We can see the demand from our data. Nigerians consumed approximately 1.66 million terabytes of data in July this year, compared to 1.13 million the previous year. This is an increase of almost 47% in twelve months.

“Keeping pace will require sustained investment, both to expand networks and improve the experience of people already connected,” Maida said.

The NCC chief said pressure on telecoms infrastructure will continue to intensify as the adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence expands across businesses and other sectors of the economy.

According to him, reliable connectivity is becoming increasingly essential for both businesses and consumers, making investments in digital infrastructure critical to Nigeria’s economic development.

Maida said the Commission had introduced measures to improve the investment climate, including the 2025 tariff adjustment, which he said addressed some of the financial pressures facing telecoms operators and strengthened their ability to invest.

He also cited the federal government’s designation of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure, as well as continued engagement with state governments on the right of way, as measures designed to protect telecommunications assets and reduce deployment costs.

The NCC chief executive also revealed that the regulator was deploying data on network performance and consumer complaints to identify service shortcomings and determine areas requiring further investment.

“We are making evidence-based decision-making at the heart of how we regulate. For investors, this should mean a clearer understanding of where the opportunities lie and greater confidence in the basis of our decisions,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has described digital connectivity as a critical economic infrastructure for trade, investment and national development.

Oduwole revealed that the telecommunications sector accounted for over 9% of Nigeria’s gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2026.

He added that mobile technologies and services contributed approximately $240 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, underscoring the growing economic importance of digital infrastructure across the continent.

The minister further disclosed that Nigeria currently has more than 25 data centers operational or under construction.

It identified data centres, cloud services, fiber infrastructure, broadband, fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital logistics as areas with significant investment opportunities.

“For investors, the message is clear: Nigeria is not approaching digital connectivity simply as a social infrastructure requirement. It is an economic opportunity to invest in,” Oduwole said.

She, however, highlighted the need for policy predictability and greater regulatory coordination to attract and sustain investment in the sector.

Furthermore, the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, said Nigeria still faces gaps in coverage, quality of service, accessibility and supporting infrastructure, despite the progress recorded in expanding connectivity.

Westerholm said the real value of data goes beyond consumption, highlighting its importance in supporting better decisions and directing investments to areas of greatest need.

“Data should not be the end point. Its true value comes when we use it to make better decisions and turn them into action,” he said.

Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Director, Secretariat of the National Frequency Management Council, Adetunji Adeyemo, said government cannot fund Nigeria’s growing digital infrastructure needs alone.

Adeyemo therefore called for stronger public-private partnerships, innovative financing models and greater involvement of development finance institutions.

According to him, reliable and transparent data would allow investors to identify demand, evaluate market opportunities and develop projects that can provide both commercial returns and development benefits.

“Good investment decisions require good data. Reliable and transparent data can help investors identify and filter asset demand, understand market opportunities and develop projects that are both commercially viable and developmental,” he said.

The development comes amid growing dependence on telecommunications networks for financial transactions, education, commerce, government services, remote working, digital entertainment and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

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