Nigeria has witnessed a dramatic surge in internet usage over the past three years, with total traffic climbing approximately 168% from January 2023 to January 2026, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The regulator reported that total internet traffic hit 1,385,536 terabytes in January 2026, up from 517,670 terabytes in January 2023, reflecting the country’s growing appetite for digital connectivity.
The year-on-year growth has been consistent, with internet usage rising to 721,522 TB in January 2024, representing a 39.4% increase from 2023, and then climbing to 1,000,930 TB in January 2025, a 38.7% rise. By January 2026, usage jumped another 38.4% compared to the previous year. These numbers highlight Nigeria’s accelerating reliance on online platforms for communication, entertainment, payments, and business activities, especially in Africa’s most populous nation.
Broadband penetration is also expanding rapidly, with 53.07% of Nigerians now enjoying high-speed internet access, equivalent to 115 million subscriptions. This marks a notable increase from December 2025, when 51.97% of the population, or 112.7 million users, had broadband access. The NCC notes that this reflects a net addition of 2.37 million users in just one month, signalling growing accessibility of high-speed internet nationwide.
Telecommunications operators are driving much of this growth through significant infrastructure investments. In 2025, operators spent over $1 billion to deploy 2,850 new telecom sites across the country, enhancing both network coverage and capacity. According to Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, commitments from operators to surpass 2025 investment levels in 2026 will further strengthen service quality and support the gradual rollout of 5G services.
The rise in connectivity also follows government initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide, including the approval of 4,000 telecom towers in rural communities. Combined with tariff adjustments that eased financial pressures on operators, these efforts underscore the critical role of internet access in Nigeria’s economy. As millions of users move daily activities online, the country’s telecom networks face mounting demand, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
source: punch