By Jessica Dogo
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), development partners and industry stakeholders have called for increased investment in digital infrastructure to bridge connectivity gaps across Nigeria.
They made the call at a two-day Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum on “Unlocking Infrastructure Investment through Data Transparency and Partnership”, organised in collaboration with the NCC, Swedfund and OOKLA, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said sustained investment was required to expand telecommunications networks and improve the quality of experience for existing users.
Maida said the forum was particularly significant as Nigeria marked 25 years of GSM operation, recalling that policy reforms and a transparent licensing process had encouraged private investment in the telecommunications sector.
He said the experience demonstrated the importance of creating an environment that give investors the confidence to participate in the development of critical infrastructure.
According to him, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 recognises the importance of encouraging investment and mandates the commission to facilitate it, while protecting consumers and promoting fair competition.
He said that the demands on telecommunications networks had increased significantly as traders, students, businesses and other users increasingly depended on reliable connectivity.
He said that Nigerians consumed about 1.66 million terabytes of data in July 2026, compared with 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025, representing almost 47 per cent increase.
He said the rising demand required sustained investment not only to expand network coverage but also to improve the experience of people already connected.
The NCC chief said the 2025 tariff adjustment was intended to address financial pressures on operators and support their capacity to invest, with the expectation of improved services for consumers.
Maida also said NCC’s engagement with state governments on Right of Way was helping to address some of the costs associated with infrastructure deployment.
“The designation of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure by President Bola Tinubu has strengthened efforts to protect telecom assets,” he said.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani said that reliable, affordable, resilient and accessible digital infrastructure was essential to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Tijani represented by Mr Adetunji Adeyemo, the Director, National Frequency Management Council, said the Federal Government had identified infrastructure, policy, innovation and entrepreneurship, and capital as strategic priorities for the digital economy.
He said government was committed to accelerating broadband deployment, attracting investment and expanding meaningful connectivity, particularly in underserved communities and local government areas.
He stressed that government could not achieve the scale of infrastructure development required alone, adding that public-private partnerships, innovative financing and a predictable investment environment were necessary.
He said that reliable and transparent data would enable investors to identify connectivity gaps, assess demand, understand market opportunities and develop commercially viable projects with developmental impact.
He urged stakeholders to use the forum to identify practical investment opportunities and develop solution to barriers constraining infrastructure development.
The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Anna Westerholm, said gaps remained in coverage, quality, affordability and supporting infrastructure in spite of progress in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Westerholm said data on network performance and user experience could provide a more detailed picture of connectivity across the country, thereby strengthening planning, regulation and investment decisions.
She said digital connectivity required an ecosystem in which fibre infrastructure, reliable power, affordability, cybersecurity and digital skills were developed together.
The diplomat said Sweden was committed to strengthening commercial and development partnerships with Nigeria, particularly in digitalisation and connectivity.
She said the success of the forum should ultimately be measured by partnerships formed, investment opportunities converted into projects and infrastructure built to connect more Nigerians. (NAN)
Edited by Uche Anunne
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