NCDC boss, Maida, says Nigerians consumed 1.7m terabytes of data in one year

Dr. Aminu Wada Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), announced that Nigerians consumed over 1.66 million terabytes of data in a single year. This revelation came during the opening of the Nigeria Digital Connectivity and Investments Forum, held in Abuja in partnership with SwedFund and Okla. Maida highlighted a 47% increase in data consumption from the previous year, when only 1.33 million terabytes were used.

He emphasized the need for continued investment and network expansion to enhance the telecom consumer experience in Nigeria. The Investments Forum, themed "Unblocking infrastructure investments through data, transparency and partnership," was organized to mark 25 years of GSM in Nigeria. Maida attributed the confidence of private investors in the telecom market to policy reforms and a transparent licensing process.

The forum provided stakeholders with a platform to openly discuss and develop recommendations to advance the sector in line with President Bola Tinubu's goal of achieving a trillion-dollar economy. Maida stressed the NCC's efforts to improve investment conditions in the telecom sector, including the 2025 tariff adjustment that addressed financial pressures on operators, ensuring better service for consumers.

President Tinubu's designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure has bolstered the protection of these assets. The NCC's engagement with state governments on Right of Way has also alleviated deployment costs. Maida acknowledged the necessity for more work on practical deployment difficulties and emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making in regulation.

Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, expressed Sweden's commitment to Nigeria, noting the large number of Swedish representatives at the investment forum. She highlighted the potential for increased Swedish investment, partnership, and technology transfer to support Nigeria's development priorities.