By Active Phone Lines in Nigeria Surpass 200 Million as Broadband Penetration Hits 42.79%
As of April 2022, active phone lines in Nigeria have exceeded 200 million, with broadband penetration reaching 42.79%. This milestone comes 20 years after Nigeria liberalized its telecommunications sector.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, shared this progress during a tea break hosted by Nigeria at the 2022 International Telecommunication Union’s World Telecommunications Development Conference (ITU-WTDC) in Kigali, Rwanda.
Representing the minister, Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner of Technical Services at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), highlighted Nigeria’s rapid ICT growth and its role in driving socio-economic development across Africa. He noted that Nigeria’s ICT journey has progressed from 2G to 5G, with two 5G licenses recently awarded through a transparent auction process.
Maska credited Nigeria’s success to effective policies promoting digital infrastructure, which have enhanced financial inclusion and digital transformation across various sectors. He also emphasized Nigeria’s active participation in ITU initiatives, such as chairing major global events and supporting ITU projects.
Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General, praised Nigeria’s contributions and encouraged other member countries to support Nigeria’s bid for the 2022-2026 ITU Council cycle.
The conference, focused on “Connecting the Unconnected for Sustainable Development,” aims to explore innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event, held from June 6-16, 2022, features various high-level panels and discussions aimed at shaping the future of global telecommunications.
