As Nigeria races toward its ambitious National Broadband Plan 2025 goals, millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with weak internet networks, hindering the digital economy and delaying essential services like digital payments. While the plan aims to increase internet speed and access nationwide, key obstacles remain, leaving citizens frustrated and the government’s targets in jeopardy.
Nigerians Face Daily Struggles with Poor Connectivity
In cities and towns across the country, many Nigerians have been left facing the harsh reality of inadequate internet service. For individuals like Mrs. Asake Ayinde, a mother of three and content creator from Ibadan, the challenges are overwhelming. Despite living in the city, Ayinde struggles to use WhatsApp effectively, let alone engage in online work or e-learning.
“I was frustrated when I attempted to do an online course to improve myself for my job,” Ayinde shared. “The connection was so poor that I couldn’t attend Zoom meetings, let alone access the e-learning platforms needed for training.”
Ayinde’s experience is far from isolated. Digital banking and other online services are similarly impacted by weak connectivity. Mr. Gboyega Ayodeji, a resident of Iyana Bodija in Ibadan, noted that mobile banking transactions, once a simple task, have become increasingly difficult due to unreliable internet.
“More often than not, I have to go to the bank to perform simple transactions I could have done from home,” Ayodeji said. “This increases stress and wastes time. The network providers need to improve their infrastructure to meet the demands of users.”
Similarly, in Abuja, Mrs. Tolulope Laniya-Awolola, who struggles with online banking and learning, expressed her frustrations. “Delays in receiving alerts and trouble accessing banking services are just a few of the issues I face,” she said. “Not being able to attend online classes or submit assignments on time is a huge setback, and the poor network only makes it worse.”
Government’s Broadband Goals Remain Unmet
The Nigerian government’s National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 promises a significant boost in internet access across the country, targeting faster speeds, wider coverage, and more affordable data. The plan outlines ambitious goals, including raising broadband penetration to 70% by 2025, lowering the cost of data to N390 per 1GB, and providing at least 90% of Nigerians with internet access.
However, with only 48.1% broadband penetration as of 2023, Nigeria is far behind its target. The lack of reliable connectivity in many areas—particularly rural regions—remains a significant barrier to achieving these goals. Internet speeds are inconsistent, with urban centers like Lagos enjoying better service than underserved rural areas.
Mr. Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), highlighted the severity of the situation. “As of December 2023, Nigeria recorded 163.8 million internet subscriptions, which represents a 9.07% year-on-year growth. While this shows progress, we are still far from meeting the broadband penetration target of 70% by 2025.”
He added, “Lagos, Ogun, and Kano lead the country in terms of internet access, but areas with less infrastructure investment continue to suffer from slower speeds and weak connectivity.”
Economic Implications of Poor Internet Connectivity
The slow pace of broadband expansion is not just a matter of inconvenience. It has serious economic implications for individuals and businesses across the country. From digital payment delays to missed opportunities in online education, the lack of a robust internet infrastructure is hampering growth in key sectors like education, banking, and commerce.
In the education sector, Mr. Olubunmi Adeite and Mr. Bamidele Olatunde, who run consultancy businesses that prepare students for international exams like TOEFL and IELTS, are struggling with the impact of unreliable internet. Both entrepreneurs are seeing a decline in the quality of their services due to poor connectivity, particularly when processing international academic applications.
“The challenges are overwhelming,” Adeite explained. “Clients rely on our platforms to complete urgent transactions, and when the internet connection fails, it disrupts everything. We’ve lost business opportunities because of this.”
The education sector is not alone in feeling the pressure. The Nigerian government has made significant strides in promoting e-government services and digital literacy programs, but the lack of infrastructure is undermining these efforts.
Experts Call for Urgent Action and Investment
With the 2025 deadline rapidly approaching, experts are urging the Nigerian government to take decisive action to address the broadband gap. Mr. Emoekpere emphasized the need for increased investment in broadband infrastructure, particularly in underserved rural areas.
“We need to invest heavily in expanding the backbone and last-mile networks. There is a pressing need for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to speed up the rollout of high-speed internet across the country,” he said. “Additionally, the government must introduce policies that incentivize operators to maintain and expand their services, especially in low-income areas.”
