Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the NCC, made this appeal at the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja. The event, organized in collaboration with Swedfund and Ookla, brought together regulators, investors, infrastructure providers, and development partners to discuss investment needs, identify deployment barriers, and explore partnerships for digital transformation.
Maida highlighted the significant growth in Nigeria's telecommunications sector over the past 25 years, attributing it to policy reforms and private sector involvement. He emphasized the NCC's commitment to fostering an environment conducive to investment while ensuring consumer protection and fair competition.
Data consumption in Nigeria has seen a substantial increase, rising from approximately 1.13 million terabytes in July 2025 to about 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, a nearly 47% jump. Maida stated that sustaining this growth requires investment in network expansion, modernization, and quality improvements.
To support network deployment and investment, the NCC has implemented measures such as approving telecommunications tariff adjustments in 2025, engaging with state governments on Right of Way issues, and designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure. The commission is also enhancing evidence-based regulation to improve transparency and clarity on investment opportunities.
The forum also featured discussions on the importance of digital infrastructure for investment, competitiveness, and international trade, with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, emphasizing its role. The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, expressed Sweden's interest in deepening commercial and investment relations, particularly in digitalization and connectivity.