Nigeria telecommunications and ecommerce sectors show significant growth

Nigeria is experiencing significant growth in its telecommunications and digital commerce sectors. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, active mobile subscriptions rose to 192.23 million in June 2026, up from 189.68 million in May. This increase brought the country’s teledensity to 88.67 percent. MTN Nigeria remains the market leader with a 51.38 percent share, followed by Airtel Nigeria with 34.44 percent and Globacom with 12.34 percent.

Broadband adoption is also on the rise, with subscriptions increasing to 123.11 million, representing a penetration rate of 56.79 percent. While broadband usage grew, total internet subscriptions saw a slight decline to 156.86 million during the same period.

Parallel to connectivity gains, Nigeria’s ecommerce sector is poised for expansion. With a projected 2026 population of 242 million, the country is identified as a high-growth market for digital retail. In 2025, retail ecommerce sales were estimated at NGN492 billion, a 29 percent increase from the previous year. Major players in this space include Jumia, which held a 54 percent market share, and Konga, with 16 percent. Payment methods for these transactions are diverse, with account-to-account transfers accounting for 44 percent of ecommerce transaction value in 2025.