Nigeria’s active mobile telecommunications subscriptions have exceeded 200 million for the first time in more than two years, signalling a recovery in the country’s telecoms market following the widespread disconnection of telephone lines during the Federal Government’s National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM verification exercise in 2024.
Latest industry statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that active mobile subscriptions increased to 200.34 million in September 2026, compared with 197.42 million recorded in August.
The figures represent an addition of approximately 2.92 million active connections within one month, pushing the country’s mobile subscriber base above the 200 million mark.
The September performance is the highest level recorded since April 2024, when active mobile lines exceeded 200 million before the NIN-SIM verification exercise triggered a significant decline in subscriptions.
The recovery has been supported by renewed subscriber acquisition efforts among major telecommunications operators, alongside network expansion, new registrations and improvements in service offerings.
MTN Nigeria maintained its position as the country’s largest mobile network operator, accounting for approximately 104.6 million active subscriptions, equivalent to 52.3 per cent of the market.
Airtel followed with about 68 million active connections, representing approximately 34 per cent market share, while Globacom recorded around 23.8 million subscriptions, accounting for 11.89 per cent.
The figures underline the continued dominance of MTN and Airtel in Nigeria’s telecommunications market, with both operators controlling the bulk of active mobile connections.
The return to the 200 million subscription threshold is significant for the industry, which experienced substantial disruption following the enforcement of mandatory NIN-SIM linkage requirements.
The verification exercise led to the disconnection of millions of lines that were not linked to valid identification records or did not meet regulatory requirements, reducing operators’ reported active subscriber figures.
The latest growth suggests that operators have continued to rebuild their customer bases, although the increase in active subscriptions does not necessarily translate directly into equivalent growth in revenue or data consumption.
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector remains central to the country’s digital economy, supporting financial services, e-commerce, education, business operations and government services.
The expansion of active mobile connections is also important for efforts to deepen digital inclusion, particularly as demand for mobile internet, digital payments and other technology-enabled services continues to grow.
However, sustained growth will depend on operators’ ability to expand network capacity, improve service quality, address infrastructure challenges and maintain affordable services amid rising operating costs.
