Nigeria is Africa's largest ICT market, accounting for 82% of the continent's telecoms subscribers and 29% of internet usage.[1] Globally,[2][3][4] Nigeria ranks 11th in the absolute number of internet users and 7th in the absolute number of mobile phones.[5][6]
Economically, the ICT sector has contributed over 10% to Nigeria's gross national product for over 10 years.[1][7][8][9]
Telecommunications in Nigeria includeradio,television, fixed andmobile telephones, and theInternet.
Nigeria's media scene is one of the most vibrant inAfrica. Television and radio remain the most important medium of mass communication and information, withSocial media rapidly emerging as the next big medium. International broadcasters, including theBBC, are popular.[10]
There are nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations. All 36 states operate TV stations. Roughly 40 state government-owned radio stations typically carry their own programs except for news broadcasts.[5]
Several private TV stations are operational. Cable and satellite TV subscription services are available. Nigeria has about 20 private radio stations; transmissions of international broadcasters are available. Digital broadcasting migration process has been completed in three states in 2018.[5]
The largest broadcasting companies are the government-ownedFederal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)[11] and theNigerian Television Authority (NTA).[12] The NTA has two television services, one is NTA 1, which is distributed among NTA's six television zones. The other is NTA 2, which is distributed nationwide and is funded mostly by advertising.NITEL owns a majority of the transmitters that broadcast FRCN and NTA programming.[13]
Each state also has a broadcasting company that broadcasts one or two locally operated terrestrial stations.[10] This means that there are about 50government owned, but partly independent television stations.
Private players in the Nigerian television scene include:Silverbird Television (STV),[14]Africa Independent Television (AIT),[15]Channels Television,[16] Superscreen Television,[17] and several others. Most of their programming is aimed for the African and global markets and is broadcast globally fromLagos,Abuja, andPort Harcourt centres with affiliated TV stations in other cities in Nigeria and several African countries.African Independent Television (AIT)[18] is a high-profile satellite television station broadcasting globally from its Lagos and Abuja centres. Other direct satellite television stations with international reach operating in Nigeria are Murhi International Television, ON Television,Galaxy TV, TV Continental, etc. all in Lagos.[10]
There is general access to cable television[10] likeGOtv,DSTV,[19]HiTV,[20] DaarSat,[15] StarTimes[21] and Infinity TV[22] and other cable TVs in Nigeria.
Radios:23.5 million (1997).[needs update]
Television stations: nearly 70 federal government-owned national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations operational; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available (2007).[23][needs update]
Television sets:56.9 million (2007).[13][needs update]
Although the government censors the electronic media through theNational Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which is responsible for monitoring and regulating broadcast media, there's no established proof towards Government's control of the media. Radio stations remain susceptible to attacks by political groups. For example, in January 2012 some media figures alleged the NBC warned radio stations not to broadcast stories about fuel subsidy protests.[25]
Libel is acivil offense and requires defendants to prove the truth of opinion or value judgment contained in news reports or commentaries, or pay penalties. However, the media is allowed to broadcast "fair comment on matters of public interest". Penalties fordefamation of character include two years' imprisonment and possible fines.[25]
The law requires local television stations to limit programming from other countries to 40 percent and restricts foreign content of satellite broadcasting to 20 percent. The NBC's 2004 prohibition of live broadcasts of foreign news and programs remains in force, but does not apply to international cable or satellite services.
On numerous occasions in the past, especially, during military regime, security forces and police have arrested and detained journalists who criticized the government. Reporting on matters such as political corruption and security issues are particularly sensitive. Politicians and political parties harass journalists perceived as reporting on them or their interests in a negative manner. During local and state elections, journalists have been intimidated for covering certain election-related events. The militant groupBoko Haram threatens media outlets and has killed members of the press. On 20 January 2012, unknown gunmen killed Channels TV reporterEnenche Akogwu while he was reporting on theBoko Haram attacks and bombings inKano that day. Journalists practiceself-censorship.[25]
The number of fixed-line connections is insignificant and also in sharp decline (2016: 349,000, 2020: 107,000).[26]
Mobile services, on the other hand, are growing rapidly, partly in response to fixed-line inadequacies; several mobile operators operate across the country, with subscribers at 92 per 100 people (2019). This ranks Nigeria 8th in the world.[5]
Deregulation of the mobile phone market has led to the introduction ofGlobal System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network providers operating on the 900/1800MHz spectrum,MTN Nigeria,[27]Airtel Nigeria,[28]Globacom,[29] and 9mobile (Etisalat). Use of cell-phones has soared, and has mostly replaced the unreliable fixed line services ofNigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL).
With the expiration of the exclusivity period of the main GSM network providers, Nigeria's telecom regulator, theNigerian Communications Commission (NCC), introduced the Unified Licensing Regime. It was hoped that telecoms with unified licences would be able to provide fixed and mobile telephony and Internet access as well as any other communications service they choose to offer. In March 2011 the NCC started registeringSIM cards. The exercise was expected to last until 28 September 2011.[30]
In 2015 the NTC fined MTN Nigeria a record $5.2 billion for issuing 5.2 million unregistered and pre-registered subscriber Identification Module Cards (SIMs). In 2017 the NTC sett up a 12-member task force in response to renewed proliferation of Unregistered and pre-registeredSIM cards. The unregistered cards are considered a threat to Nigerian national security.[31]
After a decade of failed privatization attempts, the incumbent national telecomNITEL and its mobile arm have been sold to NATCOM and now rebranded as NTEL.[26]
Nigeria concluded its first 5G spectrum auction in 2021 and granted licences to two firms: MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications. MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria are the only mobile network operators that have launched 5G services in Nigeria. The companies have rolled out 5G in these 8 states - Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Ogun, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri, and plan to expand 5G coverage to other states in the future.[1]
In Q1 2024, the telecommunications sector in Nigeria experienced a growth rate of 15.70%, up from 14.10% in Q4 2023. According to theNational Bureau of Statistics (NBS), this growth was driven by increased mobile phone penetration, higher internet usage, and the rollout of 4G and 5G networks. The sector contributed 8.90% to Nigeria's GDP during this period.[32][33]
Calling code: +234[23]
International call prefix: 009[34]
Connected lines:
Active lines:
Installed capacity:
Teledensity:
Satellite earth stations: 3Intelsat (2Atlantic Ocean and 1Indian Ocean) (2010);[23]
Nigeria is one of the larger telecom markets in Africa subject to sporadic access to electricity. Most Internet connections are via mobile networks. The government is committed to expanding broadband penetration. The operators deploy fiber optic cable in six geopolitical zones and Lagos and invest in base stations to deplete network congestion.[37]
A submarine cable break in 2020 slowed speeds and interrupted connectivity.[37]
Fixed broadband: 15,311 subscriptions, 136th in the world; less than 0.05% of the population, 185th in the world (2012).[42][44]
Wireless broadband: 17.3 million subscriptions, 18th in the world; 10.2% of the population, 91st in the world (2012).[45]
IPv4: 1.0 million addresses allocated, 75th in the world, less than 0.05% of the world total, 5.9 addresses per 1000 people (2012).[46][47]
Listed by theOpenNet Initiative as no evidence of Internet filtering in all four areas for which they test (political, social, conflict/security, and Internet tools) in October 2009.[49]
There are few government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports the government monitorse-mail or Internetchat rooms. Although the constitution and law provide forfreedom of speech, including for members of the press, the government sometimes restricts these rights in practice.Libel is a civil offense and requires defendants to prove the truth of opinion or value judgment contained in news reports or commentaries. Penalties include two years' imprisonment and possible fines. Militant groups such asBoko Haram threaten, attack, and kill journalists in connection with their reporting of the sect's activities. Journalists practiceself-censorship.[25]
Reporting on political corruption and security issues has proved to be particularly sensitive. On 24 October 2012 police inBauchi State arraigned civil servant Abbas Ahmed Faggo before a court for allegedly defaming the character of GovernorIsa Yuguda after he posted messages on hisFacebook account accusing the governor of spending public funds on his son's wedding. On 4 November, the court discharged Faggo, but media reported the state government fired him later that month.[25]
During 2012 several Internet news sites critical of the government experienced server problems, which site owners attributed to government interference. Such disruptions usually lasted a few hours.[25]
In 2008 two journalists were arrested for publishing online articles and photos critical of the government.[50]
On 4 June 2021, the Minister of Information and Culture announced that the federal government would "suspend" all operations ofTwitter in the country for performing actions that "[undermine] Nigeria’s corporate existence", and that the federal government would order theNational Broadcasting Commission to "immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations" in the country. This came after Twitter deleted posts by andsuspended the account of PresidentMuhammadu Buhari for violating its abuse policy, for making threats against the separatist groupIndigenous People of Biafra which had invoked theNigerian Civil War as a theme. Buhari criticised the actions for infringing his freedom of speech.[51][52][53] Pursuant to this action, Twitter has been blocked in Nigeria as of 5 June, and use of the service was made a prosecutable offence.[54][55] On 13 January 2022, Nigerian government revoked the ban on Twitter after the company agreed to set up a subsidiary in Nigeria for judicial compliance.[56]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromThe World Factbook.CIA. This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Department of State.
