FG to Students: You’ll get free 100MB daily data from October 1

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced an initiative to provide Nigerian students with free 100MB of daily data access to selected educational websites and digital learning platforms starting from October 1, 2026. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecommunications operators, and the Federal Ministry of Education, aims to address the high cost of internet access that often limits students from low-income households from fully engaging in digital education.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, revealed the details of the initiative during its launch in Abuja. Under the program, participating mobile network operators will offer eligible students a daily 100MB data allowance, which will be used to access government-approved educational websites and digital platforms without incurring data charges.

The initial focus will be on students in public secondary and tertiary institutions, with the possibility of expanding the initiative to other categories of learners in the future. The objective of this initiative is to ensure that no Nigerian learner is denied access to quality educational content solely due to their inability to afford data.

The Minister emphasized that this initiative could transform smartphones, tablets, and computers into classrooms and digital libraries by providing students with free access to learning materials. The government is also working on measures to regulate internet access for children under 16, ensuring that the content available to them is appropriate, credible, safe, and aligned with educational objectives.

The initiative is part of the broader digital transformation efforts in the education sector, including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System, and the Learner Identification Number. The NCC and the Ministry of Education will jointly determine the educational platforms that will qualify for zero-rated access.

The operators and platforms will comply with existing regulations on cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection, and data privacy. The initiative aims to remove financial and geographical barriers to digital learning, ensuring that no student in Nigeria is excluded from educational content due to their socio-economic background or location.