10% Broadband Growth Can Raise GDP by 1.38%, NCC Says

10% Broadband Growth Can Raise GDP by 1.38%, NCC Says

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that increasing broadband penetration by 10 percent could boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by about 1.38 percent, highlighting the economic value of expanding digital access across the country.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Aminu Maida, disclosed this while speaking in Lagos at a stakeholders’ forum on rural connectivity.

He stressed that broadband expansion is not just a technology issue but a major driver of economic growth, job creation and national development.

Maida noted that Nigeria’s broadband penetration currently stands at about 48.8 percent, but access remains uneven.

According to him, urban areas record internet access levels of up to 57 percent, while rural communities trail at roughly 23 percent.

He warned that the digital divide between urban and rural areas could widen economic and social inequalities if urgent steps are not taken to close the gap.

With more than 45 percent of Nigeria’s population living in rural communities, he said improving connectivity in those areas is critical to inclusive growth.

“A 10 percent increase in broadband penetration can lead to about 1.38 percent growth in GDP in developing economies,” Maida said, adding that digital infrastructure must be seen as a foundation for modern economic activity.

The NCC boss highlighted efforts by the commission to expand connectivity through the Universal Service Provision Fund.

He said initiatives such as the Rural Broadband Initiative and the Accelerated Mobile Phone Expansion programme are aimed at deploying base stations and fibre infrastructure in commercially unviable areas.

He also disclosed that since 2007, the fund has supported over 2,500 educational projects and supplied more than 100,000 computers to schools across the country. In addition, e-health projects are being deployed to connect rural health centres to specialist hospitals.

Maida called on state governments to adopt zero Right of Way charges to lower the cost of fibre deployment and urged telecom operators to deepen investment in rural communities. He also appealed to communities to protect telecom infrastructure from vandalism.

He maintained that strengthening broadband access would not only grow the economy but also improve education, healthcare delivery, financial inclusion and opportunities for young Nigerians.