…says only 23% rural communities have internent Access
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has decried the level of internet penetration in the Nigerian rural ommunities.
Dr Aminu Maida has therefore raised an alarm over this country’s widening digital gap.
He revealed that only 23% of rural communities have internet access compared to 57% in urban areas.
The NCC boss who was Speaking at the Rural Connectivity Summit in Lagos described the situation a major obstacle to inclusive development and a “national security concern.”
According to him, if there is no urgent intervention in this situation, millions in rural areas would remain cut off from essential services like modern education, healthcare, and economic opportunities that depend on digital connectivity.
“A community without digital connectivity is functionally invisible,” Maida stated in his keynote address.
“This ‘digital invisibility’ is an unacceptable situation we must act decisively to end.”
Linking connectivity directly to economic growth, he noted that Nigeria’s current broadband penetration is 48.81%.
He cited research indicating that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can boost a country’s GDP by up to 1.38%.
To bridge this gap, the NCC is using its Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to deploy infrastructure in commercially unattractive areas.
Key initiatives include the Rural Broadband Initiative (RUBI) and the Accelerated Mobile Phone Expansion (AMPE).
The USPF has also executed over 2,500 education projects and delivered more than 100,000 computers to schools nationwide.
Dr. Maida commended states that have reduced financial barriers by implementing zero or reduced Right-of-Way (RoW) charges for telecom infrastructure, urging others to follow suit.
He also expressed serious concern over the surge in vandalism, revealing that between January and August 2025 alone, operators recorded over 19,000 fibre cuts and 3,000 cases of equipment theft.
These attacks, he said, damage investments and degrade service quality for millions.
The NCC boss reaffirmed his commitment to achieving universal connectivity and called for a collective effort from government, operators, and communities to protect telecom infrastructure and unlock rural Nigeria’s economic potential.
