Nigeria has officially launched the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN), a strategic initiative aimed at expanding broadband access and unlocking the country's share of Africa's $300 billion digital economy potential.
A McKinsey report estimates that expanding internet access across Africa could add up to $300 billion to the continent's GDP by 2025, with Nigeria—one of the region's largest economies—expected to benefit significantly across key sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare, and finance.
Nigeria's Broadband Growth and Ambitious Targets
The country's broadband penetration has grown from 6% in 2015 to approximately 42% as of October 2024, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). However, with a vision to achieve 70% broadband penetration by 2025, the government is intensifying efforts to bridge the digital divide and drive economic transformation.
NBAN: A Key Driver of Economic Growth
Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, described the initiative as a transformative journey aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes technology, innovation, and collaboration as economic growth pillars.
"Nigeria's broadband penetration has increased from just 6% in 2015 to 42% as of October 2024, but we must do more to ensure that every Nigerian can access reliable, high-speed internet. The NBAN is not just about infrastructure; it is about ensuring that broadband becomes a catalyst for economic growth, social inclusion, and technological advancement," Tijani stated.
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National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) Targets
Under the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), the government has set ambitious targets to:
Achieve 70% broadband penetration by 2025
Deliver minimum internet speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas
Expand broadband coverage to 80% of the population by 2027
Increase broadband investments by 300-500% by 2027
To achieve these goals, Tijani—represented by NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida—revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to drive investments and oversee the deployment of 90,000 km of backbone fiber across Nigeria. This move aims to extend broadband access to underserved communities.
Overcoming Barriers to Broadband Expansion
Despite growing investments, many fiber networks remain underutilized due to:
Limited device access
Low digital literacy
Regulatory challenges
The NBAN will act as a demand aggregator, ensuring broadband adoption in schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, and rural communities. Tijani also praised pilot states—including Edo, Ogun, Kwara, Katsina, Imo, Abia, Borno, and Nasarawa—for tackling challenges like right-of-way fees to create a business-friendly broadband expansion environment.
A Call for Collaboration
"The NBAN is a commitment to a future where broadband is not a privilege but a fundamental right for all Nigerians. Through collaboration and investment, we can transform broadband into a powerful tool for economic prosperity, job creation, and innovation," Tijani added.
Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC's Executive Vice Chairman, described the NBAN as a game-changer that will foster economic growth, social inclusion, and technological advancement. He stressed the need for public-private partnerships to address investment barriers, infrastructure challenges, and regulatory hurdles that have slowed broadband expansion.
The recent Executive Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
