Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The Nigerian Communications Commission has called for increased investment in telecommunications infrastructure as Nigeria’s data consumption rose by nearly 47 per cent in one year.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, made the call on Tuesday at the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja.

The forum, organised in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla, brought together government officials, investors, development finance institutions and telecommunications operators to discuss funding opportunities for Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

Maida said Nigerians consumed about 1.66 million terabytes of data in July 2026, compared with 1.13 million terabytes recorded in July 2025.

He said the sharp increase in data demand showed the need for sustained investment to expand network capacity and improve the quality of services for existing users.

Maida warned that demand for telecommunications infrastructure would continue to grow as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other digital services became more widely adopted by businesses and consumers.

He said the NCC had introduced measures aimed at creating a more favourable environment for investment, including the 2025 telecommunications tariff adjustment, which was designed to address financial pressures facing operators and support further investment in network infrastructure.

The NCC chief executive also cited the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure and ongoing discussions with state governments over Right of Way charges as measures aimed at protecting telecom assets and reducing deployment costs.

He said the commission was increasingly relying on network performance data and consumer complaints to identify service gaps and areas requiring additional investment.

Maida said the use of evidence-based regulation would provide investors with better information about areas of opportunity and increase confidence in regulatory decisions.

Digital Connectivity Becoming Economic Infrastructure

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said digital connectivity had evolved beyond a communications service to become critical infrastructure for trade and investment.

Oduwole said the telecommunications sector contributed more than nine per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2026.

She also noted that mobile technologies and services contributed about $240bn to Africa’s economy in 2025.

According to her, Nigeria currently has more than 25 data centres either operational or under construction, reflecting growing opportunities in the digital economy.

The minister identified data centres, cloud computing, fibre infrastructure, broadband, fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital logistics as areas with investment potential.

She, however, stressed the importance of policy stability and effective coordination among regulators to attract and sustain investment.

Sweden Seeks Better Use Of Connectivity Data

The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, said Nigeria still faced gaps in telecommunications coverage, service quality, affordability and supporting infrastructure despite progress in expanding digital connectivity.

Westerholm said reliable data should be used to guide investment decisions and determine where additional resources could have the greatest impact.

She said improved access to accurate information could reduce uncertainty for investors while helping policymakers identify underserved areas.

FG Seeks Private Investment

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, represented by the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, said the Federal Government could not meet the country’s growing digital infrastructure needs alone.

He called for stronger public-private partnerships, innovative financing models and greater involvement of development finance institutions.

Adeyemo said reliable and transparent data would enable investors to assess demand, identify viable markets and develop projects capable of delivering both commercial returns and broader economic benefits.