The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that only 23 percent of rural communities in Nigeria currently have access to the internet, a gap it says is worsening the country’s digital divide.
In contrast, urban areas enjoy 57 percent connectivity, leaving millions of rural Nigerians digitally excluded from essential opportunities in education, health, and business.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed this during the Rural Connectivity Summit held in Lagos. He described the situation as a national development and security concern, emphasizing that access to digital connectivity is vital for inclusive growth. “A community without digital connectivity is functionally invisible, cut off from modern education, healthcare, markets, and opportunity,” Maida stated.
He noted that Nigeria’s broadband penetration currently stands at 48.81 percent, stressing that a 10 percent increase in broadband access could raise the country’s GDP by up to 1.38 percent. According to him, this demonstrates that broadband is not just about internet speed but a driver of economic development and social progress.
Maida explained that the NCC, through its Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), has launched several targeted initiatives such as the Rural Broadband Initiative (RUBI) and the Accelerated Mobile Phone Expansion (AMPE) to improve digital access in underserved and unserved areas. The projects, he said, have benefited over 2,500 educational institutions and delivered more than 100,000 computers across Nigeria.
He further mentioned that the Commission’s e-health and accessibility programs are helping to connect remote health facilities with major hospitals for telemedicine while also providing digital tools for persons with disabilities. Maida also commended state governments that have reduced Right-of-Way (RoW) charges, noting that such collaboration accelerates broadband rollout across the country.
Addressing challenges in the sector, the NCC boss expressed concern about the rise in vandalism of telecom infrastructure. He revealed that operators recorded over 19,000 fibre cuts and 3,000 cases of equipment theft between January and August 2025. Maida called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, communities, and telecom operators to safeguard critical facilities and ensure universal connectivity for all Nigerians.
