By Francis Kalu
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), development partners and telecommunications industry stakeholders have called for increased investment in digital infrastructure to close connectivity gaps and improve service quality across Nigeria.
The stakeholders made the call at the two-day Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja, themed “Unlocking Infrastructure Investment through Data Transparency and Partnership.”
The forum was organised in collaboration with the NCC, Swedfund and Ookla to explore investment opportunities and partnerships capable of accelerating Nigeria’s digital infrastructure development.
Speaking at the event, NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, said sustained investment was necessary to expand telecommunications networks and improve the quality of experience for millions of users.
Maida said the forum was particularly significant as Nigeria marked 25 years of GSM operations, noting that policy reforms and transparent licensing processes had helped attract substantial private investment into the telecommunications sector.
He said the experience demonstrated the importance of creating a predictable regulatory environment that gives investors confidence to finance critical infrastructure.
According to him, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 recognises the importance of encouraging investment and mandates the NCC to facilitate sector growth while protecting consumers and promoting fair competition.
Maida said demand for telecommunications services had risen considerably as businesses, traders, students and other Nigerians increasingly relied on digital connectivity for their daily activities.
He disclosed that Nigerians consumed about 1.66 million terabytes of data in July 2026, compared with 1.13 million terabytes recorded in July 2025, representing an increase of nearly 47 per cent.
The NCC boss said the surge in data consumption underscored the need for continued investment, not only to extend network coverage but also to improve service quality for existing subscribers.
Maida added that the 2025 tariff adjustment was designed to ease financial pressures on telecommunications operators and strengthen their capacity to invest in infrastructure, with the expectation that consumers would benefit from improved services.
He also said the commission’s engagement with state governments on Right of Way charges was helping to reduce some of the costs associated with telecommunications infrastructure deployment.
“The designation of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure by President Bola Tinubu has strengthened efforts to protect telecom assets,” Maida said.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said reliable, affordable, resilient and accessible digital infrastructure remained essential to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Tijani, represented by the Director of the National Frequency Management Council, Mr Adetunji Adeyemo, said the Federal Government had identified infrastructure, policy, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as capital, as strategic priorities for developing the digital economy.
He said the government was committed to accelerating broadband deployment, attracting investment and expanding meaningful connectivity, particularly in underserved communities and local government areas.
The minister stressed that the government could not independently provide the scale of infrastructure required, adding that public-private partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms and a predictable investment environment were critical.
According to him, reliable and transparent data would help investors identify connectivity gaps, assess demand, understand market opportunities and develop commercially viable projects with significant developmental impact.
Tijani urged participants to use the forum to identify practical investment opportunities and develop solutions to barriers hindering infrastructure development.
Also speaking, Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, said significant gaps remained in network coverage, service quality, affordability and supporting infrastructure despite progress recorded in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Westerholm said reliable data on network performance and user experience could provide a clearer picture of connectivity conditions across Nigeria and strengthen planning, regulation and investment decisions.
She stressed that digital connectivity required an integrated ecosystem in which fibre infrastructure, reliable electricity, affordability, cybersecurity and digital skills were developed simultaneously.
The ambassador reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to strengthening commercial and development partnerships with Nigeria, particularly in digitalisation and connectivity.
She said the forum’s success should ultimately be measured by the partnerships established, investment opportunities transformed into viable projects and infrastructure delivered to connect more Nigerians.