Nigeria Surpasses 140 Million Internet Users, Pushes Broadband to 48.8 %

More than 140 million Nigerians now have internet access, driving the national broadband penetration rate to 48.81 percent as of August 2025. The milestone was announced at a business roundtable on broadband investment and critical‑infrastructure protection held in Abuja.

Targets 70 percent broadband coverage and the deployment of 90,000 km of fibre‑optic cable nationwide.
legal protection to telecom assets and empowers law‑enforcement agencies to act against vandalism and theft.

Eleven states have eliminated RoW fees entirely; seventeen others cap the charge at ₦145 per metre.

New cost‑reflective, competitive rates have been approved, prompting operators to commit more than $1 billion to expand coverage and capacity.

Between January and August 2025 the sector recorded 19,384 fibre cuts, 3,241 equipment thefts, and over 19,000 denials of access to telecom sites. These disruptions cause service outages, revenue losses, higher security costs and slower restoration.

A Telecommunications Industry Working Group, formed by the NCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser, is tasked with enforcing the presidential order and curbing sabotage.

Loo Intended to make backbone infrastructure more accessible to ISPs, improving last‑mile connectivity especially in rural areas.

Calls for full RoW waivers, stronger protection of telecom infrastructure, and coordinated public‑works planning to avoid accidental fibre damage.

Today, over 140 million Nigerians are connected to the internet. This achievement reflects not just access but empowerment.”“If we do not act decisively, our connectivity progress could be undermined by sabotage and neglect.”