Nigeria accelerates drive to boost broadband connectivity, protect critical infrastructure

Omeiza Bilal

Nigeria is intensifying efforts to expand broadband connectivity and safeguard critical national telecommunications infrastructure as key drivers of economic growth and national security, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, has said.

In his remarks at a business roundtable convened by the Commission at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Wednesday in Abuja, the EVC said broadband plays a pivotal role in enabling businesses, supporting security operations, and fostering economic inclusion nationwide.

The public-private dialogue, had as its theme: “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity.”

Highlighting broadband’s vital impact across sectors, the NCC helmsman noted that “From industrial export operations in Enugu and mining consultations in Zamfara to e-commerce in Lagos, real-time technical monitoring in Yenagoa, and cross-border payments in Kano, nations that embraced historic innovations like steam and electrification surged ahead.  

“Today, data, broadband, and AI are the new engines of growth. Seizing this moment is critical to Nigeria’s future prosperity.”

Currently, Nigeria boasts nearly 49% broadband penetration with over 140 million internet users, contributing significantly to GDP. Research predicts that a 10% broadband increase can fuel 1.38% GDP growth in developing economies.

While citing Rwanda and India as successful stories of benefits of fibre optic infrastructure and digital skills development to transform their economies, the EVC said that Nigeria, with a youthful median age of 18 and massive population, has even greater potential to leapfrog by providing affordable, reliable high-speed internet to its youth.

Maida noted that despite significant strides by the Commission, challenges hamper full realization of broadband targets.

According to him, the sector recorded nearly 20,000 fibre cuts, over 3,000 equipment thefts, and repeated site access denials in the first eight months of 2025, causing outages and financial losses.

Fragmented and unpredictable RoW regulations across states cause delays and increase costs, compounded by weak coordination with road authorities and inconsistent infrastructure protection enforcement. Additional hurdles include energy volatility, multiple taxation, and cumbersome permits, he added.

“Between January and August 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre cut incidents, 3,241 cases of equipment theft, and over 19,000 cases of denials of accessto telecom sites.

“Together, these disruptions have caused prolonged outages, revenue losses, increased security costs, and delayed service restoration. They demonstrate why infrastructure protection must be at the centre of our collective agenda.

“Another persistent challenge facing broadband expansion in Nigeria is the fragmented and unpredictable Right of Way (RoW) regimes across different states, which create delays and cost uncertainties for operators. This problem is compounded by inconsistent enforcement of critical infrastructure protection, weak coordination with road authorities, and the absence of clear construction planning protocols. Beyond these, the sector continues to contend with energy supply volatility, multiple taxation, and cumbersome permitting processes, all of which pose significant headwinds to progress,” he explained.

The NCC underscored the urgency for collective action urging stakeholders to harness collaboration to ensure broadband access becomes a widespread national asset, securing Nigeria’s place as a digital leader on the continent.

“If our broadband backbone is weak, Nigeria’s youth risk marginalization, and our economy will fall short of its immense potential,” the EVC warned.