L-R: Director, Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection, Office of the National Security Advisers (ONSA), Enebong Effiom; Executive Governor, Katsina State, Dikko Radda and Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, during a business roundtable on broadband investment and critical national infrastructure protection hosted by the Commission in Abuja on Wednesday (October 8, 2025).
How much is an hour of connectivity really worth?
It’s the unseen force powering the industrialist in Enugu closing an overseas deal, the miner in Zamfara consulting geologists remotely, the entrepreneur in Lagos running an online store, the technician in Yenagoa monitoring dashboards, and the merchant in Kano managing cross-border payments. Even our security agencies depend on real-time intelligence powered by connectivity. When that connection breaks, progress halts, and sometimes, lives are at stake.
Connectivity, in today’s world, is not just about faster downloads or clearer calls, it is the foundation of productivity, inclusion, and resilience. It determines how quickly economies can grow, how businesses can compete, and how citizens can thrive in the digital age.
As of August 2025, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at 48.81%, with over 140 million people connected to the internet. The ICT and telecom sector already contribute significantly to the nation’s GDP. Studies show that every 10% increase in broadband penetration drives an estimated 1.38% growth in GDP for developing economies. Imagine the transformation that would come from reaching 70% or more.
For individuals and small businesses, internet access opens global doors, enabling remote work, e-commerce, and innovation that were once out of reach. Across the world, countries like Rwanda and India have demonstrated the power of broadband investment. Rwanda’s strategic focus on digital infrastructure has made it a hub for digital services, while India’s IT and outsourcing sector, now valued at over $240 billion annually, grew from decades of consistent investment in digital infrastructure and skills.
With a population of over 200 million and a median age of just 18, Nigeria has a unique opportunity to go further. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is championing a new era of broadband expansion, one that ensures affordable, reliable, and high-speed access across all regions.
Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria is executing the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025), targeting 70% broadband penetration and 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure by the end of 2025.
The NCC has translated this vision into concrete action, expanding coverage, strengthening regulation, and protecting the nation’s telecom infrastructure. A landmark achievement came in June 2024, when President Tinubu signed the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order, guaranteeing executive protection for Nigeria’s telecom assets.
This order empowers law enforcement agencies to prevent vandalism, theft, and service disruption, ensuring that operators can deliver uninterrupted service nationwide. To enforce this, the NCC has established a Telecommunications Industry Working Group in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), a major step toward securing Nigeria’s digital backbone.
Connectivity, once seen as a luxury, is now the lifeline of modern society. And as Nigeria accelerates its broadband agenda, agencies like NITDA and NCC are ensuring that every Nigerian, from the remotest village to the busiest city, can connect, create, and compete in a truly digital economy.
