Mobile subscriptions in Nigeria have decreased by 3.49 million over the past three months, recent data from the Nigerian Communications Commission have shown. This poses a setback to the country’s goal of achieving mobile inclusion for all.
After reaching a peak of 226.84 million subscriptions in February of this year, the number has been steadily declining. In March, it dropped to 225.82 million and further decreased to 223.34 million.
This marks the first consistent decline in mobile subscriptions since June 2021. The decline can be attributed to the Federal Government’s policy implemented in 2020 and 2021, which required SIM cards to be linked to National Identification Numbers.
This policy had a significant impact on the mobile industry and resulted in a sharp decline in subscriptions. However, since then, subscriptions have shown signs of improvement and reached record highs.
Among the telecommunication companies, MTN Nigeria is the only operator that experienced a decrease in mobile subscriptions during the reviewed period.
Their subscriptions declined by 4.03 million, going from 92.71 million to 88.68 million. Despite this decline, MTN Nigeria remains the largest mobile network operator in the country.
The drop in mobile subscriptions raises concerns about Nigeria’s progress towards achieving widespread mobile inclusion. Efforts will be needed to identify and address the factors contributing to the decline, ensuring that mobile services remain accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.
