The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for an accelerated rollout of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) infrastructure, declaring that rapid broadband expansion is vital to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
Speaking virtually on Tuesday at the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Critical Conversation Forum on FTTH in Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said robust digital infrastructure had become indispensable for national development.
The forum, themed “Addressing Challenges, Strengthening Standards and Ensuring Sustainable FTTH Deployment in Nigeria,” brought together key industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for expanding broadband access across the country.
Maida said internet connectivity now underpins education, healthcare, commerce, governance, financial services and innovation, making resilient fiber infrastructure a national priority.
He disclosed that Nigeria recorded 154.72 million internet subscriptions as of April 2026, while broadband penetration climbed to 55.67 percent, up from 48.81 percent a year earlier.
According to him, Nigerians now consume approximately 1.4 million terabytes of internet data every month, driven by remote work, online learning, cloud computing and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence-powered applications.
Despite the surge in internet usage, Maida noted that fixed broadband remains significantly underdeveloped, with only about 265,000 FTTH subscriptions, describing the gap as a major opportunity for economic growth.
He identified Right-of-Way bottlenecks, multiple permit requirements, vandalism, poor deployment standards and weak coordination among stakeholders as the biggest obstacles slowing fiber infrastructure expansion nationwide.
The NCC chief revealed that 13 states had completely waived Right-of-Way charges, while 16 others had adopted the National Economic Council’s recommended fee of N145 per linear meter.
He urged the remaining states to remove unnecessary barriers, stressing that the long-term economic benefits of digital infrastructure far outweigh revenues generated from Right-of-Way charges.
Maida also announced that the NCC had launched an Ease of Doing Business Portal to simplify broadband investments by providing state-specific information on approvals, regulations and deployment requirements.
He added that the commission was reviewing Nigeria’s wholesale broadband market to encourage competition, promote infrastructure sharing, expand consumer choice and make high-quality broadband services more affordable.
According to him, telecommunications infrastructure should be integrated into community planning alongside roads, electricity and water projects to reduce deployment costs and accelerate broadband expansion.
Maida assured stakeholders that the NCC would continue to enforce technical and safety standards to ensure fiber infrastructure remains durable, reliable, and capable of meeting future digital demands.
He further revealed that telecom operators recorded more than 27,685 fiber cuts, 27,000 access denials, and 4,210 theft incidents in 2025, all of which significantly disrupted telecommunications services across the country.
He stressed that safeguarding telecommunications infrastructure requires stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies, lawmakers, operators and host communities, particularly following its designation as Critical National Infrastructure.
Maida said the Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE would deploy about 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable to extend broadband connectivity to all 774 local government areas, adding that the national backbone must be complemented by last-mile FTTH connections to homes, schools, hospitals, businesses and communities.
Also speaking, ATCON President Mr. Tony Emoekpere called for stronger infrastructure sharing, harmonized deployment standards and deeper collaboration across the industry to drive sustainable broadband growth.
Emoekpere urged operators to tackle poor installation practices and infrastructure duplication, saying doing so would improve network quality, reduce costs and accelerate Nigeria’s quest for universal broadband access.
He expressed optimism that the forum would produce practical recommendations to expand last-mile connectivity and strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.
