The Nigerian Communications Commission has disclosed that Nigerians now consume about 45,800 terabytes of data daily, highlighting the country’s growing dependence on internet services and digital platforms.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, made the disclosure during the 2026 Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications held in Lagos.
Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said total data consumption in March 2026 reached 1.42 million terabytes, compared with 995,000 terabytes recorded during the same period in 2025.
According to him, the increase reflects the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy and rising demand for internet-based services.
“Put another way, this is roughly equivalent to Nigerians watching over 15 million hours of high-definition video every single day,” he said.
He noted that daily data usage in March 2025 stood at about 32,100 terabytes, representing approximately 10.7 million hours of HD video consumption daily.
“This means Nigerians are now using the equivalent of about 4.6 million more hours of HD video every day than they did a year ago,” he added.
Maida attributed the growth to increased adoption of digital payments, e-commerce platforms, startups, digital literacy programmes and emerging technologies across the country.
“The rapid growth of digital payments, e-commerce platforms, startups, digital literacy, and the adoption of emerging technologies underscores the immense potential of our digital economy to drive innovation and expand opportunities,” he stated.
Despite the sector’s growth, the NCC warned that telecommunications infrastructure across the country remains vulnerable to vandalism, fibre cuts, equipment theft and sabotage.
Maida referenced the recent designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that telecom assets now require stronger protection due to their strategic importance to the economy.
According to him, the commission is collaborating with security agencies, telecom operators and other stakeholders to improve infrastructure protection through nationwide asset mapping, public sensitisation campaigns, mediation efforts and stricter enforcement measures.
He added that the NCC’s collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser had already led to the disruption of syndicates involved in telecom equipment theft and resale.
On cybersecurity, Maida disclosed that the NCC launched the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) to tackle SIM-related fraud, identity theft and abuses linked to recycled phone numbers.
He also said the commission had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Central Bank of Nigeria to strengthen efforts against electronic fraud associated with phone numbers.
According to him, the collaboration would also involve agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Identity Management Commission.
Chairman of the NCC Governing Board, Idris Olorunnimbe, also said digital technologies had transformed governance, commerce, security systems and social interactions globally.
He noted that issues relating to cybersecurity, online harms, artificial intelligence, infrastructure protection and consumer rights now require stronger institutional collaboration and improved judicial understanding of the evolving telecommunications sector.
Olorunnimbe expressed confidence that the workshop would strengthen the capacity of judges to effectively handle telecommunications-related disputes while supporting innovation and protecting Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
