Nigerians consumed a record 8.51 million terabytes of data in the first half of 2026, underscoring the country’s accelerating shift toward a digital-first economy.

Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed this. Specifically, in January, consumption was 1.385 million terabytes; February, 1.260 million terabytes and March, 1.422 million terabytes.

In April, consumption was 1.414 million terabytes. It climbed to 1.504 million terabytes in May and 1.532 million terabytes in June.

In 2025 alone, Nigerians consumed over 13.2 million terabytes of data, a 35 per cent increase from 2024, reflecting how connectivity has become essential for daily life.

The surge in consumption was driven largely by the twin giants of the telecom sector, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, whose half-year reports revealed data services have firmly overtaken voice as the primary revenue stream.

According to industry figures, average monthly data usage per subscriber rose sharply, reflecting the growing reliance on mobile broadband for work, entertainment, and commerce.

Streaming platforms, social media, fintech apps, and remote work tools have all contributed to the spike in demand.

MTN Nigeria reported that its 55.7 million active data subscribers consumed an average of 14.8 gigabytes per month, representing a 15.2 per cent increase year-on-year. Overall, MTN’s data traffic surged by 25.8 per cent across its network in the period.

This translated into a massive N1.70 trillion in data revenue, a 38.4 per cent jump compared to the same period in 2025. Data now accounts for more than half of MTN’s total service revenue, dwarfing its voice earnings of N993.5 billion, which grew at a modest 12 per cent.

Airtel Nigeria also posted strong numbers, recording N691 billion in data revenue ($507 million). While Airtel’s voice services contributed to a combined N1.42 trillion in voice earnings alongside MTN, the clear trend is that data has become the dominant driver of growth.

Together, MTN and Airtel generated N2.4 trillion from data services in H1 2026, cementing their role as the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.

MTN invested N620.5 billion in capital expenditure during the period, focusing on expanding 4G coverage, scaling 5G rollout, and strengthening fibre infrastructure. The company’s aggressive push into next-generation networks is aimed at meeting the surging demand for high-speed connectivity.

Airtel, meanwhile, faced challenges with fibre cuts and vandalism, forcing reinvestments to stabilize its network. The operator is blending 5G expansion with satellite partnerships to extend coverage into rural and semi-urban areas, where demand for reliable Internet is rising.

Despite these investments, many consumers continue to express dissatisfaction with service quality. Complaints of slow speeds, unstable connections, and high costs remain widespread, highlighting the gap between consumption growth and infrastructure capacity.

The NCC has repeatedly urged operators to deepen investments in fibre, towers, and spectrum to sustain the country’s digital transformation. Analysts note that the sector is undergoing a structural shift from voice-first to data-led growth, with internet connectivity now central to economic activity.

Industry experts predict that Nigeria’s data consumption will continue to rise exponentially as smartphone penetration increases and more services migrate online. The rollout of 5G is expected to further accelerate usage, enabling innovations in fintech, e-commerce, healthtech, and entertainment.

The consumption of 8.51 million terabytes in H1 2026 marks a historic high for Nigeria’s telecom industry. It reflects not only the appetite of a digitally hungry population but also the broader transformation of the economy.

With MTN and Airtel leading the charge, the challenge now lies in improving service quality, expanding infrastructure, and ensuring affordable access for millions of Nigerians. As data becomes the lifeblood of communication and commerce, the telecom sector’s ability to keep pace with demand will determine how effectively Nigeria harnesses the opportunities of the digital age.

…Dame Madueke: Mbah’s investments in Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure transforming Oji River

Women of Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State have pledged their support for Governor Peter Mbah and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The women made their position known on Sunday at a gathering organised by the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, at her country home in Inyi, Oji River LGA, as part of activities to celebrate womanhood and highlight the achievements of the Governor Peter Mbah administration in the council area.

Madueke said the event was organised to bring together women from Oji River irrespective of their political, religious or community affiliations, while also providing an opportunity to showcase projects and programmes executed by the state government in the area.

She said the Mbah administration had established 20 Smart Green Schools and 20 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres in Oji River, while work was progressing on the Umabi-Ehuhe Achi and Enugu-Aku-Inyi roads.

The commissioner also commended Governor Mbah for appointing indigenes of Oji River to various positions in his administration, as well as supporting women through different empowerment initiatives, including monthly financial assistance facilitated by the wife of the governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah.

“Today, we are giving out a lot of wrappers, rice, food and empowerment for the women. We also have a medical team that will check their vitals and everything,” she said.

Madueke disclosed that the gathering was also used to assess Permanent Voter Card (PVC) ownership among participants, noting that only women with PVCs were welcomed into the venue.

While noting that more than 3,000 women attended the gathering, she attributed the large turnout to sustained sensitisation efforts by the Executive Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike.

The commissioner said the women had resolved to support Governor Mbah and APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

“We promise him that come 2027, Oji River will deliver votes for APC from top to bottom,” she declared.

Dame Madueke said the gathering was also a demonstration of the important role women play in community development and political participation, adding that the initiative was aimed at strengthening unity among women in Oji River and creating a platform for them to engage with government programmes and development initiatives.

She said the administration’s investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and human capital development had created tangible benefits for communities across the state, including Oji River.

Speaking, the wife of the council chairman, Mrs Uche Anyaegbudike, said women across Oji River had benefited from various empowerment and welfare programmes.

She said the initiatives had provided uniforms and wrappers to women, while petty traders, church groups and other beneficiaries had received financial assistance.

According to her, about 150 women received N100,000 each during the previous August meeting, while 20 women currently receive N100,000 monthly under an empowerment scheme.

She said the interventions had enabled beneficiaries to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Also speaking, the council chairman, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike, described the large turnout as evidence of the women’s support for Governor Mbah and the APC.

He said the women were not compelled to make any political declaration, stressing that their support was based on the impact of the administration in the council area.

“What you see here is that the crowd is organic. You can see old women coming out in their various uniforms and various groups coming here to say it is Peter Mbah.

“This is about the Smart Green Schools, the hospitals, human capital development and scholarships,” he said.

Anyaegbudike further disclosed that more than 123 indigenes of Oji River were currently benefiting from the state government’s scholarship programme for students in higher institutions.

The Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, urged the women to sustain their support for Governor Mbah and the APC.

Enih said the governor had demonstrated commitment to improving infrastructure, human capital development and the welfare of residents across Enugu State.

She also commended Madueke for bringing the women together and creating a platform for them to celebrate womanhood, highlight government interventions and discuss further development in Oji River.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Victor Udeh, was among other dignitaries who attended the event.

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has expressed sadness over the death of its former President, Dotun Oladipo, publisher of The Eagle Online.

Oladipo died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 56.

He was President of GOCOP from 2017 to 2021 and was one of the publishers who helped shape the Guild in its early years.

His death is a loss to GOCOP and the wider Nigerian media community.

Oladipo came into online publishing with years of experience in the traditional media. He had worked as a journalist and editor before moving into digital publishing and bringing that experience to The Eagle Online.

At a time when online news publishing was still developing in Nigeria, he was among those who saw the need for publishers to come together, share ideas and build a stronger professional community.

That was also the period when GOCOP was growing from an association of online publishers into an organisation with a clear identity and a growing presence in the Nigerian media industry.

As President between 2017 and 2021, Oladipo devoted considerable time to the affairs of the Guild. He represented GOCOP at different engagements and worked with members as the organisation dealt with the opportunities and challenges that came with the rapid growth of online publishing.

GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, said Oladipo’s death was painful for the Guild.

“Dotun played an important role in the development of GOCOP. He led the Guild for four years at a time when there was still a lot of work to be done to establish online publishers as an important part of the media. His contribution will always be remembered,” Nmodu said.

He said Oladipo brought his experience as a journalist and publisher to the leadership of the Guild.

“Dotun understood journalism and he understood the business of publishing. He was passionate about the place of online media in Nigeria and he gave his time to the growth of the Guild. We are saddened by his passing,” Nmodu said.

Oladipo’s involvement in journalism began long before the emergence of online publishing as a major source of news in Nigeria. His career in the mainstream media gave him a grounding in reporting, editing and newsroom management.

He later became publisher of The Eagle Online, joining a group of journalists and publishers who moved into the digital space as the internet changed the way Nigerians received and shared news.

His years in GOCOP coincided with a period of rapid growth in online publishing. More news platforms were emerging, social media was changing the way stories reached readers, and online publishers were becoming increasingly important to the Nigerian media industry.

GOCOP said Oladipo’s contribution should be seen against this background.

The Guild also remembered him as a colleague who maintained relationships with publishers across the country and took an active interest in the affairs of the organisation even after leaving office.

GOCOP extended its condolences to Oladipo’s family, the management and staff of The Eagle Online, and his friends and colleagues in the media industry.

The Guild said it would work with his family and associates on plans to honour his memory.

Signed

Kemi Yesufu
Publicity Secretary
Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP)