Nigeria's NCC seeks increased digital infrastructure investment

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is calling for increased public and private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure to support the country’s growing digital economy. Speaking at the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja, NCC Executive Vice-Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida highlighted a significant surge in data usage, noting that Nigerians consumed approximately 1.66 million terabytes of data in July 2026, a 47 per cent increase from 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025.

To address this rising demand and the increasing reliance on cloud services and artificial intelligence, Maida emphasized the need for sustained investment to expand network coverage and improve service quality. He noted that the 2025 tariff adjustment was designed to alleviate financial pressures on operators, enabling them to invest more effectively. The NCC is also working to protect telecom assets by designating infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure and engaging with state governments regarding Right of Way issues.

In a related industry discussion at the 2026 eWorld Forum in Lagos, IHS Nigeria underscored the importance of infrastructure, noting its role in the country’s connectivity growth as Nigeria marks 25 years of GSM technology. IHS Nigeria currently operates roughly 16,000 towers and over 15,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable to support mobile network operators.