Nigeria’s Broadband Penetration Goal Faces Uncertainty
As the clock ticks closer to the end of 2025, Nigeria’s ambitious goal of achieving 70% broadband penetration is looking increasingly unlikely. Despite assurances from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) that the country would surpass this threshold, the current penetration level of 47.73% with 103.5 million broadband subscriptions as of March 2025 tells a different story.
The NCC had initially promised that Nigeria would reach 50% broadband penetration by the end of 2023, with the aim of surpassing 70% by 2025, as outlined in the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025. However, with only seven months left to meet this target, the slow growth rate of broadband penetration since 2023 raises significant concerns.
According to the latest statistics published by the NCC, broadband penetration has been steadily increasing, albeit at a slow pace. In December 2024, Nigeria attained 44.43% penetration with 96 million broadband subscriptions, which grew to 45.61% with 98 million subscriptions in January 2025, and further to 47.73% with 103 million subscriptions in March 2025.
Industry stakeholders have expressed concerns over the slow growth rate, with the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, warning that Nigeria may struggle to meet its 70% target without significant investments in the telecoms sector. "We need real investors who will invest in the sector to achieve rapid growth in broadband penetration," Adebayo emphasized. "This includes ubiquitous broadband connectivity, more fibre optic cable connections, and upgrades to cell sites and fibre-to-the-home connectivity."
As Nigeria strives to bridge the digital divide and promote economic growth through improved broadband connectivity, the uncertainty surrounding its broadband penetration goal serves as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead. With the clock ticking, it remains to be seen whether the country can muster the necessary investments and regulatory efforts to meet its ambitious target and unlock the full potential of its digital economy.
