Nigeria’s internet usage has surged over the past three years, with internet traffic climbing about 168 per cent between January 2023 and January 2026, according to analyses of data from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Figures compiled by the telecom regulator show total internet traffic reached 1,385,536.04 terabytes in January 2026, compared with 517,670.15 terabytes recorded in January 2023. In January 2024, internet usage rose to 721,522 TB, representing a 39.4 per cent increase compared with 2023 levels.
The growth continued in January 2025, when usage climbed to 1,000,930.60 TB, marking another 38.7 per cent year-on-year increase. By January 2026, total internet consumption had jumped further to 1,385,536.04 TB, reflecting a 38.4 per cent rise compared with the previous year.
Overall, Nigeria added 867,865.89 TB of internet traffic between 2023 and 2026, bringing the cumulative increase to roughly 168 per cent over the three-year period.
The near-consistent 38–39 per cent annual growth rate points to an accelerating appetite for digital services in Africa’s most populous nation, as more consumers rely on online platforms for communication, entertainment, payments and business activities.
Nigeria’s broadband penetration reached 53.07 per cent, meaning just over half of the population had access to high-speed internet.
