Nigeria’s mobile subscribers hit 220 million – NCC
In an announcement made at the 18th Abuja International Trade Fair, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that Nigeria’s active mobile subscriptions have reached an impressive 220,715,961 million as of August 2023. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, delivered the news during the fair, which has the theme “Sustainable Financing and Taxation.”
The NCC also shared that active internet subscribers in Nigeria have reached 159,034,717 million, with a broadband penetration rate of 45.57% as of August 2023. Mr. Danbatta, represented by Umar Alkasim, the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, emphasized the importance of businesses in Nigeria leveraging new technologies and acquiring digital skills to compete on a global scale.
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Mr. Danbatta stated, “In Nigeria today, the number of active mobile subscriptions reached 220,715,961 million as of August 2023, while teledensity stood at 115.63% at the same period. Also, the number of active internet subscribers was 159,034,717 million with broadband penetration at 45.57% as of August 2023. In this new environment, the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses depends on their ability to leverage on new technologies by acquiring the necessary digital skills to do business on an international scale. This, in turn, benefits the economy financially.”
The NCC emphasized its role in deepening access to digital services, as it believes this will contribute to job creation, the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the emergence of new services and industries. The commission continuously implements regulatory measures to ensure seamless access to telecommunications services, making Nigerian businesses and industries digitally compliant and competitively positioned.
To sustain the growth of the telecommunications sector, Mr. Danbatta highlighted the NCC’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for robust broadband infrastructure deployment, with a focus on improving the quality of service and consumer experience.
He stressed that having strong telecommunications infrastructure is crucial for Nigeria’s transition into an ICT-driven nation and global digital competitiveness.
Umar Alkasim, the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, reiterated the NCC’s dedication to fair competition and a level playing field within the telecommunications industry.
The commission aims to safeguard consumer interests and protect their rights from any unfair practices in the telecom service value chain.
This commitment is demonstrated by the commission’s continuous effort to establish seamless programmes that would Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE Mandate) telecom consumers through various consumer-centric initiatives,” he said.
