NewStats: 3,264,213 , 8,182,980 topics. Date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025 at 07:58 AM 5xa33

The Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, of the Nigeria Communication Commission, Umar Danbatta, has revealed that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy is planning to reduce the cost of data from N1,000 to N390 per gigabyte.

Speaking to journalists in Kano on Saturday, Mr Danbatta disclosed that part of the plan was the new national broadband plan for the year 2020-2025, which says Nigeria must provide broadband connectivity, cover virtually all parts of the country and deploy 4G infrastructure also across the country.

According to him, the ministry was tasked to come up with a digital economy policy and strategies, adding that all the efforts put in place are intended to bring the cost of data down to N390 as against the N1,000 that Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, are charging.

“Actually the cost has come down to N1,000/gigabyte of data, but the government is saying that we should be targeting N390 in the next 3 to 5 years.

To achieve subsidized data cost, according to Mr Dambatta, the country must provide pervasive broadband data infrastructure.

“We need pervasive broadband data infrastructure because at the landing point in Lagos, where we have all the submarine cables. You know, that is why we have them. There is the main cable, 133, West African Sea Cable (WASC). And there is the other one which Glo company is trying to deploy.

“This, combined, have data capacity of 40 terabyte. This data capacity is at the landing point in Lagos. That is from the coast, where there is ocean. Until and unless you move this massive 40 terabyte data capacity into the hinterland because the undersea cables are terminating in Lagos.

“Hinterland consists virtually all the major cities of the country and the 774 Local Governments of Nigeria. Through this way you will be meeting demands for data with appropriate or commensurate supply of data. This is how it will enable Nigerians to pay less data tariff.

“But this massive capacity of data at landing cost can’t move itself. There is the need to build fibre cables that can carry this capacity to the hinterland.

“We are indeed pursuing the plan. There is infrastructure and company licensing framework that could give the companies the ability to afford to sell the data to the retail agents, who will sell the data to the citizens,” he explained.

At the moment, he added, the plan is not happening but is what the country intends to do to bring the cost of data down from N1,000 /gig to N390/gig, adding that the plan is an important policy of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The EVC however said Nigeria is among the countries with lowest data cost in the whole Africa.

“Following observation of the ranking, which was carried out by reputable global organizations, the commission had found out that Nigeria stands in 4th position among the countries with lowest data tariff on the continent,” Mr Danbatta said.

He said Nigeria’s data cost is more than $2, adding that South Africa, despite her economic development, sells data higher than Nigeria and the country is not even among the lowest.

“It is true that Nigerians are yearning for low data prices. Nigeria has one of the lowest data tariff in Africa. When we observed the rankings by global reputable organizations, we discovered that in the rankings of data services and cost, we are like number 4.

“Virtually all the African countries were listed in the ranking. Our data price is $2 and a few cents.

“In South Africa, despite their economic development, they sell data higher than Nigeria. To be honest with you, South Africa is not even among the lowest. Cost of data services doesn’t need to come down,” he said.

https://dailynigerian.com/nigerian-government-moves-to-reduce-data-cost-from-n1000-to-n390-per-gig/

I don't even know why I booked this ftc.

I will help you your business here for just a token

Stop telling us your plans.
Just tell us when you have implemented them.

And in 3-5 years, how much devaluation would Buhari have brought upon the Naira?

This APC government has a way of forcing the private sector and individuals (not receiving enough government ) to do semingly impracticable things while it will stick to its own decision to increase prices.
The government can increase VAT by 50%, increase airport taxes by 100% and increase petrol prices when crude oil is below $40pb above the price set while it was above $100pb but private businesses that increase their own prices are termed saboteurs.

Good news. We are sick and tired of paying through our nose for data that's not even sufficient

great news for me as a blogger n social media pr. . OYA artistes hit me up let's earn from spotified...

Tell us when you implement it, we are tired of hearing about policies you hardly implement

We are extorted in all spheres, whatever checks and cushions it is welcomed.

Kingnutts:
great news for me as a blogger n social media pr. . OYA artistes hit me up let's earn from spotified...

It seems your aren’t a Nigerian!

Anywhere you see the preposition “TO” in Nigerian government’s plan, please don’t too bank on it. It is a “future impossible tense”

There must be an ulterior motive behind this

Great

Next 3-5 yrs?

if this will be done, it means that the citizens have to pay with social media regulations bill

Amotolongbo:
It seems your aren’t a Nigerian!

Anywhere you see the preposition “TO” in Nigerian government’s plan, please don’t too bank on it. It is a “future impossible tense”

u think say I send? me weh dey my business

These people are not serious, a gigabyte 390? While presently is 300 naira on binge

StiLL PLanning?!

Men be prepare to cook your food by yourselves because ladies will now spend more time surfing the net for only God knows what

Ahmeduana:
These people are not serious, a gigabyte 390? While presently is 300 naira on binge

I kept looking at the date thinking I must have gone back in time somehow. I can't when I last bought 1gig for N1000.

seconded but its kinda...cheaper though... Or what are they trying to do self..




Thread seen...

And MTN dey give me 1.5GB for #300

See bribery

They should help us install free wifi with data cap allover Nigeria pls.

Hmmm

The same moves they made to stop rice importation,

See where it has landed us.
Useless govt

sammyj:
See bribery

noting go ever satisfied some people head for dis life. Dem must find faults sha. I pity u

finally, at least data won't be luxury like it has been for a while now and that's if naira doesn't crash and 390 naira would be equivalent to 1000 naira

It is long over due. But can the NCC really achieve this? Only time will tell.

Though I do get 1.5gb from mtn for #300

Lies

REDUCE FUEL PRICE, FOOD COMMODITIES AND OTHERS

Ok

Please do abeg. As I dae here I dad finish 16 gig in 5days

Reduce data cost

Increase Zapping



1gig would now last 2 hours.. no be Nigeria?