Telecom operators pour $1bn into network expansion in 2025 – NCC
Orisemeke Benjamin
Telecom operators in Nigeria invested over $1 billion in network expansion last year alone, adding thousands of new sites to boost coverage and service quality, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed.
Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, disclosed this yesterday at a workshop in Lagos organised jointly by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and NCC for judges. Represented by Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Maida highlighted the sector’s resilience amid economic headwinds.
“This investment underscores the telecom sector’s critical role in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and social cohesion,” Makama quoted Maida as saying.
She pointed to surging data consumption as evidence of the digital economy’s momentum. In March 2026, Nigerians guzzled 1.42 million terabytes of data – up from 995,000 terabytes in March 2025 – averaging 45,800 terabytes daily. That’s equivalent to over 15 million hours of high-definition (HD) video streamed every day.
“By comparison, daily usage last March was 32,100 terabytes, or about 10.7 million hours of HD video. Nigerians now consume the equivalent of 4.6 million more HD video hours daily than a year ago,” she added.
Broadband penetration has also climbed from 47.70% last year to 54.30% this year, expanding access to faster internet for more citizens.
Maida stressed the judiciary’s role in this digital surge: “As Nigeria’s transformation unfolds, the judiciary must ensure it remains innovative, secure, inclusive, and rooted in the rule of law.”
Judiciary urged to tackle digital challenges
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, represented by NJI Administrator, Hon. Justice B.A. Adejumo, echoed the call. She noted how digital tech has reshaped governance, commerce, finance, education, and social ties.
“Judicial officers must confront emerging legal issues – from cyber disputes and infrastructure protection to data governance and online safety – with foresight,” Adejumo said.
The workshop theme, “Adjudicating the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety,” captures this urgency. “The judiciary cannot stay detached as digital matters dominate court dockets,” she added.
These developments signal telecom’s pivot toward infrastructure resilience, vital for Nigeria’s digital economy amid global tech shifts.
