NCC Calls for Increased Investment in Nigeria’s Telecoms Infrastructure

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)  has called for increased public and private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure to accelerate broadband expansion, improve service quality and support Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, made the call at the opening of the maiden Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum, organised by the Commission in collaboration with Swedfund and Ookla in Abuja.

Maida said the forum provides a platform for regulators, investors, infrastructure providers and development partners to discuss the investment needed to expand connectivity, address barriers to infrastructure deployment and explore partnerships that can accelerate digital transformation and economic development.

He said Nigeria’s telecommunications growth over the past 25 years demonstrates the impact of sound policy, transparent regulation and investor confidence, noting that sector liberalisation and transparent licensing processes encouraged private sector participation and drove significant growth in connectivity and communications services.

“The experience of the last two and a half decades underscores the importance of creating an enabling environment for investment. As a regulator, the Commission remains committed to facilitating investment while ensuring consumer protection and promoting fair competition.”

– Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

According to Maida, demand for reliable digital connectivity continues to increase as individuals, businesses, educational institutions and public services rely more heavily on broadband-enabled technologies. He added that the adoption of cloud-based services, digital platforms and artificial intelligence applications would further increase demand for robust telecommunications infrastructure.

Maida disclosed that data consumption in Nigeria rose from approximately 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025 to about 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, representing growth of nearly 47% in one year.

“The investment challenge before us is not merely one of expanding coverage. It is also about ensuring that those already connected enjoy better service quality, improved user experiences, and infrastructure capable of supporting future technologies.”

– Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

The NCC chief executive highlighted measures including the telecommunications tariff adjustment approved in 2025, ongoing engagements with state governments on Right of Way issues, and the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said these measures are intended to reduce barriers to network deployment and strengthen investor confidence.

Maida also called for greater use of evidence-based regulation to improve transparency, regulatory certainty and understanding of investment opportunities in the telecommunications sector. He urged local and international investors, development finance institutions, infrastructure providers and other industry stakeholders to partner with the Commission to expand digital connectivity.

“The investment we advance today must ultimately translate into better opportunities for Nigerians, improved access to services, and a stronger digital economy that supports sustainable national development.”

– Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

He commended Swedfund and Ookla for their partnership and contributions to the forum, noting that their collaboration provides independent data on connectivity experiences and supports the NCC’s efforts to identify service gaps, monitor network performance and assess areas requiring additional investment.

Maida also highlighted the NCC’s Consumer Data Lab, funded by the Gates Foundation and developed in collaboration with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). The platform combines Ookla network performance data, consumer complaints and operators’ intervention reports on a single dashboard to support analysis of connectivity issues by location and demographic characteristics.

“This helps us investigate service problems and assess whether operators’ interventions have improved consumers’ experience. It also gives us a more useful picture of where further deployment or network upgrades may be needed. We want investors to benefit from that understanding, and from regulatory decisions that are clear, proportionate and supported by evidence.”

– Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

In her keynote address, titled “Connectivity and Competitiveness: Digital Infrastructure as a driver of Investment Climate and Trade”, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, commended the NCC and its partners for convening the forum.

Oduwole said the discussions were focused on the infrastructure required to produce, connect, invest and trade in a modern economy. She noted that digital infrastructure increasingly determines the quality of a country’s investment climate, competitiveness and ability to participate in international trade.

She added that the nature of trade has changed, with “private networks, data centres, digital platforms, and secure data systems are critical for transactions”.

Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, also acknowledged gaps in connectivity coverage, quality, affordability and supporting infrastructure. She said government, industry and investors would need to work together to address these challenges, while identifying energy, cybersecurity and digital skills as important elements of a sustainable connectivity ecosystem.

“Sweden is interested in deepening commercial and investment relations with Nigeria, particularly in digitalisation and connectivity. Swedish institutions and companies could contribute technology, commercial expertise, development finance, export financing and project development to support Nigerian infrastructure priorities”

– Anna Westerholm, Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Embassy of Sweden

Ookla VP of Sales, Middle East & Africa, Tristan Muhader, said connectivity has become increasingly important to economic and public activity across sectors.

“Connectivity is no longer simply the channel through which we make calls or browse the internet. It is becoming the operating layer for economic and public activity across sectors, from essential services to AI. That makes its performance and resilience a national priority’. Through our collaboration with the NCC, Ookla contributes independent, crowdsourced intelligence that reveals the experience people receive and helps identify where infrastructure investment can have the greatest impact, adding that “This intelligence can also help authorities understand the impact of disruptions and verify recovery. The forum is an opportunity to turn shared evidence into smarter investment, stronger national digital resilience and a more competitive digital economy for Nigeria.”

– Tristan Muhader, VP of Sales, Middle East & Africa, Ookla

Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the Director of the National Frequency Management Council, Adetunji Adeyemo, said reliable, affordable, resilient and accessible digital infrastructure is essential to Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Adeyemo said the Federal Government had identified infrastructure, policy and innovation, entrepreneurship and capital as key strategic priorities.

The two-day forum brings together policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, telecommunications operators, infrastructure providers, technology companies and development partners to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria’s digital connectivity sector.