Active Internet Subscription in Nigeria exceeded 154 million in Q4 2022

According to the most recent NCC figures, there were 154,847,901 active internet subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2022, up from 141,971,560 in the fourth quarter of 2021. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that on a quarterly basis, this increased from 152,784,980 in Q3 2022 by 1.35 percent. According to the report, MTN (42.37%) had the largest proportion of subscriptions in the nation, followed by Glo (278%) and Airtel (26.59%). However, according to a state profile analysis, Lagos state had the most active internet subscribers (18,702,394) during the reviewed period, followed by Ogun (9,206,614) and Kano (8,470,131). In contrast, Bayelsa had the lowest number (1,101,002), followed by Ebonyi (1,264,825) and Ekiti (1,474,970), in that order.

The increase in total mobile internet subscriptions nationwide suggests that the economy is still recovering from the decline that was brought on by the Nigerian Communication Commission’s (NCC) restriction on SIM registration in late 2020 and early 2021. All the states of the federation experienced growth during this time, even though some have lower subscription rates than others. This can also be attributed to the rising demand for smartphones and the need for internet access, which follows trends of rising demand for digital services made available through platforms with internet access.

The supply of network (including bandwidth length) must increase in accordance with the increase in demand for internet, particularly in areas with poor coverage, as this can boost commercial and economic activity, income generation, and even improve access to educational opportunities and resources to improve learning across the nation. Additionally, the federal government must continue to exercise due diligence through the NCC by improving access to Internet resources for those who are less fortunate and raising awareness of the issue.