Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, has disclosed that Nigeria ranks as a leader in the global digital space.
According to him, with an estimated 132 million internet connections, out of the five billion internet users worldwide, Nigeria has emerged as a key player in the digital sphere.
The NCC EVC/CEO made the disclosure while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting, held recently in Abuja.
He highlighted the significant progress Nigeria is making in the telecommunications sector, noting that the country is now ranked among the top internet users globally.
Maida also reaffirmed that the Commission was unrelenting in its commitment to delivering world-class telecommunications services in Nigeria.
“Nigerians spend an average of four hours and 20 minutes on social media daily, far above the global average, underscoring how deeply embedded digital interaction is in our lives.
“In 2024, Nigeria’s daily data usage averaged 336 gigabytes per second, marking a 39 per cent increase from the previous year, a clear indication of the data-driven lifestyle many Nigerians lead,’’ he said.
The NCC boss therefore emphasised the determination of the Commission to ensure that Nigerians, wherever they are in the country, have access to high-quality, reliable and affordable communication services.
He said, as internet usage had become essential to daily life of average Nigerians, “our role at the NCC is to not only ensure accessibility, but to enhance service delivery for consumers.”
Maida said the telecom landscape in Nigeria has transformed from basic voice services to high-speed data that connects, informs and powers innovations in the last two decades.
“With the rollout of 3G, 4G and now 5G, we have seen Nigerians adopting social media, e-commerce, online banking and more.
“The introduction of 3G networks in the mid-2000s marked the beginning of this shift, enabling basic browsing and email.
“The leap to 4G LTE brought faster speeds, enabling video streaming, online gaming, and a myriad of digital activities.
“Now, with 5G promising even faster speeds and lower latency, new frontiers are opening for innovations such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things, driving further demand for data,” he said.
The NCC boss said the Commission was prepared to remove all impediments on its way to meeting the needs of all consumers and also provide world-class services.
“I would like to stress that at the heart of the Commission’s Strategic Vision is the commitment to meet the expectations of our stakeholders: the consumers, the industry/licensees, and the government.
“To achieve this, our focus has evolved from simply demanding quality service to ensuring a holistic Quality of Experience throughout the telecom consumer’s lifecycle, from SIM registration to usage and even service disposal,” Maida added.
