Nigeria's broadband coverage stuck at 52%, missing 70% government target as operators demand policy fix

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reports broadband penetration has stalled at 51.97%, far short of the federal government's 70% target under the National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020–2025, which expired in April 2026 without meeting its key goals.

Telecom operators cite five structural blockers: inconsistent Right of Way charges across states, multiple taxation from different government tiers, fiber cable vandalism, naira volatility and forex scarcity making equipment imports expensive, and chronic power supply failures forcing costly diesel generator reliance.

The NCC plans to upgrade 12,000 base stations to 4G and 5G in 2026, while the Ministry of Communications is reviewing a new broadband roadmap; a 'Project 774' initiative aims to connect all local government secretariats, and a new framework may penalize operators for poor service while rewarding expansion into underserved areas.