Nigerian Communications Commission reports that Nigeria’s internet usage has surged dramatically over the past three years, with total internet traffic climbing approximately 168 per cent between January 2023 and January 2026.
Analyses of NCC data show that total internet traffic reached 1,385,536.04 terabytes (TB) in January 2026, up from 517,670.15 TB recorded in January 2023. Usage rose to 721,522 TB in January 2024, representing a 39.4 per cent increase over the previous year. In January 2025, internet consumption climbed to 1,000,930.60 TB, marking another 38.7 per cent year-on-year increase. By January 2026, traffic had further jumped to 1,385,536.04 TB, reflecting a 38.4 per cent increase compared with 2025 levels.
Overall, Nigeria added 867,865.89 TB of internet traffic between 2023 and 2026, indicating a cumulative growth of roughly 168 per cent over the three-year period. The near-consistent annual growth rate of 38–39 per cent underscores the accelerating appetite for digital services in Africa’s most populous nation.
The surge is attributed to increased reliance on online platforms for communication, entertainment, digital payments, and business activities. Nigeria’s broadband penetration now stands at 53.07 per cent, meaning that just over half of the population has access to high-speed internet, further enabling digital inclusion and economic participation.
