By Correspondent.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has declared that connectivity has become the new lifeline of modern nations, stressing that countries without reliable broadband infrastructure risk being left behind in the global digital economy.
Speaking at a Business Roundtable on Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure, held at the NCC Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja, Dr. Maida said broadband access now determines a country’s economic inclusion, productivity, and national resilience.
He said today, data, broadband, and artificial intelligence are the new engines of growth, adding that those who seize the moment will prosper; hesitation carries a heavy cost.
The EVC, who spoke on the theme, “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure: The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity,” noted that as of August 2025, Nigeria’s broadband penetration had reached 48.81 percent, with over 140 million citizens enjoying internet access.
According to him, the ICT/telecom sector remains one of Nigeria’s top GDP contributors, and research indicates that a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration could boost GDP by about 1.38 percent.
“When we talk about connectivity, our minds go to faster downloads or smoother video calls. But the impact extends far beyond these. Connectivity today equals opportunity,”
“It is what allows an industrialist in Enugu to close an overseas shipment, a miner in Zamfara to consult geologists remotely, or a trader in Kano to coordinate digital payments across borders,”Dr. Maida said.
He emphasized that broadband transforms local markets into global ones, creating new jobs, digital businesses, and innovation hubs across Nigeria’s states.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the guidance of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the NCC, he said, is aggressively pursuing the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025).
According to him, the effort that targets 70 per cent broadband penetration and the deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure nationwide by the end of 2025.
Dr. Maida identified key barriers to broadband expansion, including the high cost of Right of Way (RoW) fees, vandalism of telecom infrastructure, and inconsistent enforcement of protection laws.
“Between January and August 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre cut incidents and 3,241 cases of equipment theft.
“These disruptions have caused prolonged outages, revenue losses, and delayed service restoration. That’s why infrastructure protection must be at the centre of our collective agenda,”he revealed.
The NCC boss commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) for implementing the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order, signed by President Tinubu in June 2024, which empowers law enforcement agencies to tackle vandalism and safeguard network assets.
He disclosed that through sustained engagement, eleven states have now waived RoW charges entirely, while 17 others have capped fees at ₦145 per metre, following a resolution of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
“Our goal is uniform, predictable RoW rates nationwide, coupled with transparent permitting processes and shared infrastructure to reduce costs,” the EVC noted.
Dr. Maida warned that with a global digital race underway, nations that fail to invest in broadband will face economic marginalization.
He reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to fostering a robust, innovative, and investor-friendly telecom sector that would drive Nigeria’s transformation into a digital powerhouse in Africa.
He said with over 200 million people and a median age of 18, Nigeria can not only follow but surpass other nations’ digital trajectories ,if the country equips its population with reliable, affordable, high-speed connectivity.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
