Nigeria’s Data Consumption Rises 47% as NCC Calls for More Digital Infrastructure Investment
By Fact Harbour News
Nigeria’s data consumption has risen by about 47 per cent within one year, highlighting the growing demand for digital services and the need for continued investment in telecommunications infrastructure.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, disclosed the development in Abuja, saying monthly data consumption increased from about 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025 to approximately 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026.
The increase reflects the growing reliance of individuals, businesses and public institutions on internet-based services, including digital payments, online commerce, cloud applications, remote services and other data-intensive platforms.
Maida said the rapid growth in consumption had increased pressure on existing telecommunications infrastructure and made continued investment in network expansion, modernisation and resilience increasingly important.
According to him, the investment challenge facing the telecommunications sector is no longer limited to extending coverage to communities without connectivity.
He said attention must also be given to improving the quality of service available to existing subscribers and ensuring that networks have sufficient capacity to accommodate future technologies and increasing demand.
The NCC chief executive called for greater participation by local and international investors, development finance institutions and infrastructure providers in expanding Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
He said increased investment would be necessary to support the country’s expanding digital economy and ensure that telecommunications networks can accommodate the rising volume of data generated by consumers and businesses.
Maida also highlighted regulatory measures being pursued by the NCC to create a more favourable environment for infrastructure investment.
Among the issues receiving attention, he said, were Right of Way challenges involving state governments and the protection of telecommunications infrastructure.
The NCC has also supported the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, a move intended to strengthen the protection and resilience of networks that have become essential to economic and social activities.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, also stressed the growing importance of digital infrastructure to Nigeria’s economy and investment environment.
Oduwole said the increasing digitisation of commerce meant that reliable internet connectivity, data infrastructure and secure digital systems had become important requirements for businesses seeking to compete effectively in the modern economy.
The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, similarly identified connectivity, service quality, affordability and supporting infrastructure as areas requiring continued attention.
Westerholm also pointed to energy availability, cybersecurity and digital skills as important factors that could influence the sustainability and effectiveness of investments in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, the Director of the National Frequency Management Council, Adetunji Adeyemo, said reliable, affordable and resilient digital infrastructure remained fundamental to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
He noted that continued investment would be required as more Nigerians and businesses depend on digital platforms for communication, commerce, financial transactions and other services.
Ookla’s Vice President of Sales for the Middle East and Africa, Tristan Muhader, said connectivity was increasingly becoming important beyond conventional telecommunications services because digital networks now support a wide range of economic and public activities.
He noted that network performance and resilience would therefore remain significant as more services and transactions moved online.
Maida also disclosed that the NCC was using its Consumer Data Lab to analyse network performance information, consumer complaints and reports of interventions by telecommunications operators.
The initiative, he said, would help the Commission identify specific connectivity problems and determine areas where additional investment or network improvements may be required.
The data-driven approach is also intended to help regulators assess whether interventions by operators are producing measurable improvements in consumers’ experience.
The latest increase in data consumption comes as Nigeria continues to experience expanding use of broadband services and digital technologies.
From mobile internet and digital banking to online education, cloud computing, streaming, e-commerce and business applications, more economic and social activities are increasingly dependent on telecommunications networks.
The increase from 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025 to 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026 therefore points to a substantial rise in the amount of data being carried across Nigeria’s telecommunications networks.
For operators and regulators, the trend reinforces the importance of expanding network capacity while improving reliability and service quality.
The NCC’s call for additional investment comes as Nigeria seeks to deepen digital inclusion and strengthen the infrastructure supporting its growing digital economy.
With data demand continuing to rise, sustained investment in telecommunications networks, energy supply, cybersecurity, fibre infrastructure and digital skills is expected to remain important to Nigeria’s efforts to build a more reliable and inclusive digital ecosystem.
