Nigeria’s broadband penetration rose marginally to 48.15 per cent in April 2025, up from 47.73 per cent in March, according to the latest industry statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Despite this slight uptick, stakeholders say the country remains far from achieving the 70 per cent broadband penetration target set under the National Broadband Plan (NBP 2020–2025).
The NCC’s data revealed that there were approximately 104.3 million broadband connections in the country as of April.
When the NBP was launched in March 2020, broadband penetration stood at 39.85 per cent, with 75.4 million connections, highlighting that progress over the past four years has been sluggish and well below expectations.
Industry analysts have attributed the slow pace of progress to systemic challenges, particularly those affecting infrastructure deployment.
“The biggest bottlenecks remain at the state level, where Right of Way (RoW) charges and inconsistent regulatory frameworks are stifling growth,” said Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
“We can’t achieve meaningful broadband expansion without collaboration from the states.”
Only seven states have so far waived RoW fees to facilitate broadband expansion, while others impose exorbitant levies on telecom operators attempting to lay fiber optic cables.
The result is a fragmented policy environment that discourages investment.
At a recent telecoms forum, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, acknowledged these challenges, emphasizing that the path to 70 per cent broadband coverage is being obstructed by state-level regulations.
“To fully realize the benefits of digitization and meet the NBP targets, state governments must ease regulatory burdens,” Maida said.
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“Multiple taxation, Right of Way disputes, and poor infrastructure resilience are key issues undermining progress. If addressed, these can significantly accelerate broadband rollout and digital inclusion.”
Another major concern is device affordability. The NBP had recommended the establishment of at least one local smartphone assembly plant by 2023, aiming to reduce entry-level smartphone costs to N18,000.
However, no such plant exists, and the price of the cheapest smartphones has soared to over N100,000, largely due to the devaluation of the Naira.
“Smartphone affordability is a significant access barrier,” said Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne.
“Broadband penetration is not just about coverage — it’s also about access. Without affordable devices, we’re leaving millions of Nigerians behind.”
Further complicating the NBP’s progress is the failure to meet targets around 4G adoption.
According to the Plan, 70 percent of telecom subscriptions should be on 4G networks by 2023.
However, the NCC’s April 2025 data shows only 49.27 per cent of the 172 million active mobile subscriptions are on 4G, pointing to persistent gaps in network upgrades and affordability.
Analysts have warned that unless urgent reforms are implemented at the state and federal levels, Nigeria risks missing the 70 per cent target entirely, thereby weakening its ambitions for a fully inclusive digital economy.