Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has called for Nigeria’s growing investment in digital connectivity to translate into real economic opportunities, higher productivity and improved access to markets for businesses and citizens. Oduwole made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum, organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla.

The minister said digital infrastructure has become a critical part of Nigeria’s investment climate, competitiveness and participation in global trade. According to her, infrastructure such as fibre networks, data centres, cloud services, digital platforms, electronic payment systems and secure data networks now play a major role in how goods, services, capital and information move across borders. She noted that the growing digital economy also presents opportunities in fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital logistics and other digitally delivered services.

However, Oduwole stressed that simply expanding connectivity would not be enough to deliver meaningful economic gains. She said businesses must be able to use digital infrastructure to access customers and markets, process payments, comply with regulations, securely move data and deliver services across borders. “Connectivity must translate into economic opportunity,” she said, while calling for greater policy predictability, stronger regulatory coordination and increased collaboration between government, private-sector players and development partners.

The growing demand for digital services was also highlighted by NCC Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aminu Maida, who said Nigeria’s data consumption rose from about 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025 to 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, an increase of almost 47 percent. Maida said the surge showed the need for sustained investment to expand networks and improve the experience of existing users. He added that the NCC was using network performance data, consumer complaints and other market information to identify service gaps and areas requiring investment.

Other stakeholders at the forum also pointed to the need for a stronger digital ecosystem. Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, identified connectivity coverage, quality, affordability, energy, cybersecurity and digital skills as areas requiring attention, while expressing Sweden’s interest in deepening investment and commercial ties with Nigeria in digitalisation and connectivity. Ookla’s Vice-President of Sales for the Middle East and Africa, Tristan Muhader, said reliable connectivity was increasingly becoming an essential layer for economic and public activity. Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, Adetunji Adeyemo said reliable, affordable and resilient digital infrastructure remained essential to Nigeria’s economic transformation, with infrastructure, policy and innovation, entrepreneurship and capital identified as key priorities.

source: The cable