Nigeria’s ICT Sector Sustains Strong Real GDP Growth, Driving Non-Oil Economy in Q2 2025
Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector continued its upward trajectory in the second quarter of 2025, cementing its place as one of the key drivers of the nation’s non-oil economy. According to the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the sector grew by 6.61 percent in real terms, up from 4.38 percent during the same period last year. This steady rise underscores the crucial role of digital services and infrastructure in diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
In nominal terms, the ICT sector posted even more impressive gains, surging 21.39 percent year-on-year — more than double the 10.21 percent growth recorded in Q2 2024. The sector spans telecommunications, information services, publishing, broadcasting, and motion picture production. Analysts say this rapid expansion reflects increased investment in technology, a boom in mobile connectivity, and the rapid adoption of digital platforms by businesses and households alike.
The sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s overall economic output also rose. ICT accounted for 11.18 percent of total real GDP in the second quarter of 2025, up from 10.93 percent in Q2 2024 and 10.59 percent in the previous quarter. This highlights the growing reliance on technology as an engine of growth, particularly in areas such as digital payments, online media consumption, and e-commerce platforms.
Within the ICT sector, telecommunications and information services remained dominant, recording a real growth rate of 7.39 percent in the quarter. Broadcasting and publishing also experienced steady improvements, fueled by the rise of streaming services, digital advertising, and content creation. Industry players note that this trend signals an expanding digital economy where local innovation and entrepreneurship are reshaping consumer behavior.
The NBS report further noted that ICT was among the top industries propelling the non-oil sector, alongside agriculture, real estate, trade, and financial services. The non-oil sector grew 3.64 percent in real terms in Q2 2025, underlining the central role of digital services in Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. With increased mobile penetration, government-backed tech initiatives, and a thriving start-up ecosystem, experts predict the ICT sector will remain a cornerstone of Nigeria’s growth story.
source: business day