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E-Business

Nigeria Lags in Internet Speed, Sits at 107th Position

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Telecommunications operators providing mobile broadband services in the country are focusing much on penetration without efforts on speed of broadband evident in Nigeria’s lag in broadband speed report.

 

Broadband is associated with speed as against narrow band. The neglect of speed aspect of broadband provision has resulted in the country occupying 107th position globally and ninth in Africa in Speedtest Global Index report for 2018.

 

The report puts Nigeria’s mobile broadband download speed at 12.76 Mbps with South Africa emerging first in Africa having average download speed of 18.31Mbps. This is, however, the fastest out of the African countries listed, with the next fastest being Kenya at 14.42Mbps and then Mauritius at 14.12Mbps.

 

Responding, Sunday Folayan, managing director, General data Engineering Services (SKANNET) as well as president, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), said that speed and penetration are complementary.

 

“Penetration leads to higher demand and justification for investments by the providers. More penetration leads to more demand for higher speed, which ultimately improves the access density.

 

“There is abundant access at the landing points, but evacuation to the hinterland, last mile distribution, quality of service and lower costs remains major challenges for us.

 

He urged governments to continue to remove barriers, create appropriate use-case, and drive inclusion.

 

“Today, Nigerians complete the purchase of JAMB and WAEC forms online. It will be good if FIRS, immigration and other essential government services are procured online. It will drive the adoption of broadband”.

 

On the determination of speed of internet, he said: “The forces of demand and supply will ultimately force speed, if limitations such as spectrum are removed, and there is the proliferation of Fiber to the home and fiber to everywhere.

 

“Much more, the ability to domesticate our Nollywood industry and making their movies available for viewing in Nigeria; We are ripe for a Netflix like local service that will then ramp up the pent-up demand for broadband speed in Nigeria”.

 

Muhammed Rudman, managing director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, said that, Internet speed is very important, but penetration is fundamental to the development of any society. “As you know most countries focus on the penetration initially then raise the benchmark speed as more people have access at the basic level.

 

“This is because even with low speed internet access citizens can participate in the global internet arena – voice their opinions through social media platforms, access to educational content, online banking, emails and all other critical services. While access to high speed internet access opens more doors, such as high quality video content for both education and entertainment, video conferencing, e-health, online gaming and much more.

 

“The report indicates that both operators and regulators need to do more, especially through constant engagement and collaboration. There is serious need for government to work with the industry towards addressing operator’s needs so as to fast-track deployment of the needed infrastructure for broadband deployment.

 

“While at the same time there is urgent need for collaboration between operators towards infrastructure and asset sharing – This would hasten broadband penetrations and ensure business sustainability,” he said.

 

The slowest average downloads were found in Tunisia with 7.69Mbps, Egypt with 6.74Mbps and Algeria, where the speed is just 3.75Mbps.

 

 

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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E-Business

Minister Seeks Digital Tech Adoption to Improve Agriculture, Boost Food Security

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The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has called for the urgent adoption of digital technology in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to boost food production, curb rising prices, and reduce the country’s dependence on food imports.

Speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta at the Ogun Tech Forward Innovation & Startups Roundtable session, Tijani stressed that Nigeria’s vast arable land and large population could only be effectively harnessed through technological intervention.

He warned that without embracing innovation, traditional farming practices would remain inefficient and expensive, putting food security at risk.

“Technology innovation has already contributed 16 to 18 per cent, but we are aiming for 21 per cent. We need to introduce our technology into agriculture to produce enough food to feed ourselves

“Without technology, countries like Nigeria cannot practise agriculture effectively. We have the vast land, but without technology, we won’t do it well,” the minister said.

Tijani noted that the continuous rise in food prices and the country’s dependence on foreign exchange to import grains that can be grown locally is unsustainable.

He emphasised that leveraging tools such as mobile apps, drones, sensors, and data analytics could transform Nigeria’s farming landscape by enabling precision agriculture and providing real-time insights on soil conditions, pest control, crop health, and intruder detection.

He maintained that the deployment of such technologies would not only enhance farming efficiency and sustainability but also lead to higher yields, lower production costs, and ultimately, more affordable food for Nigerians.

The minister also made a broader case for inclusive innovation across the country, cautioning that Nigeria’s technological future cannot be shaped by a few urban centres alone.

He said the federal government would support emerging tech ecosystems, especially in states like Ogun, to ensure grassroots participation in the digital economy.

Tijani declared, “We can’t leave innovation in the hands of just a few cities. Every part of Nigeria, including towns and rural areas, must be part of the digital journey. The more people we carry along, the stronger we become as a country.”

Tijani, however, revealed that the federal government would back Ogun Tech Hub’s initiative aimed at creating 300 jobs through business process outsourcing as part of a broader vision to transform Nigerian states into ‘talent cities’.

He said, “If we don’t invest in our own people, we’ll keep depending on others for solutions. We must create space for local ideas to grow and become real businesses.”

The minister further called for the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and drones into key sectors, particularly agriculture, while advocating for the adoption of generative AI in education to support personalised, accessible learning across communities.

In his remarks, the President of the Ogun Tech Community, Adekunle Durosinmi, called on the federal government to provide strategic support to accelerate the growth of the state’s digital ecosystem.

He urged the minister to facilitate the establishment of a functional innovation hub and a permanent secretariat to nurture local startups.

Durosinmi highlighted the critical role Ogun State plays in Nigeria’s economic framework, describing it as a major industrial hub and strategic transport corridor linking Lagos with the rest of the country and West Africa.

He said that with 57 per cent of its 7.1 million projected population in the working-age category, Ogun State possesses immense potential for digital innovation, job creation, and youth development.

“Ogun State is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in technology and entrepreneurship. We have more than 29 tertiary institutions—more than any other state in the country—which makes us a natural home for innovation,” he said.

Since its launch in February 2022 and formal registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Durosimi stated that the Ogun Tech Community has organised various initiatives aimed at strengthening digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and grassroots tech engagement.

He noted that the community has created 19 active clusters, ranging from developers and mentors to women in tech and agritech specialists, all working together to drive inclusive growth in the tech space.

He reiterated the community’s alignment with the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2024, stressing that its programmes, governance structure, and advocacy are geared toward promoting digital literacy, supporting startups and SMEs, encouraging e-government services, and fostering responsible digital innovation.

He also stressed that collaboration between government, industry, academia, and the tech ecosystem is key to achieving national development goals.

He expressed appreciation for Tijani’s presence at the roundtable, describing it as a clear indication of the federal government’s commitment to inclusive innovation.

“We want to see such solutions replicated across the country. To accelerate this, we need your support. Ogun urgently needs a fully functioning physical secretariat and, importantly, a dedicated innovation hub to nurture and grow even more startups,” he said.

 


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NOTAP, REVASS Ink Agreement to Strengthen Tech Compliance

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National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has signed an agreement with Revass System limited to strengthen technology acquisition compliance through its regulatory framework and boost sustainable capacity in the country.

NOTAP, REVASS Ink Agreement to Strengthen Tech Compliance

Speaking during the signing of the agreement in Abuja, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, director general and chief executive officer, NOTAP, said that the agreement is to reinforce NOTAP’s core mission of ensuring that technology imported into the Country serves the broader interest particularly in advancing local content development, nurturing indigenous capabilities and ensuring sustainable job creation.

In a statement made available to journalists by Raymond Ogbu, assistant chief information officer, NOTAP,  the DG said that the major purpose of the agreement was for Revass Systems limited to design, develop, deploy and manage a secure and efficient digital revenue collection system for NOTAP that will be in compliance with NOTAP Act, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN financial guidelines, NITDA policies, and other applicable Nigerian laws.

The DG said that the app should enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in revenue collection and management as well as build the capacity of NOTAP staff through structured training and technology transfer initiatives.

Dr. Amadiobi stated that the agreement reflects a strategic approach to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and technological independence by ensuring that every technology transferred into the country delivers tangible value to Nigerians.

“This partnership represents a pivotal step in ensuring that technologies coming into Nigeria are not only in compliance with Nigerian laws but also aligned with the country’s developmental priorities”.

“The goal of the agency is to ensure that every agreement NOTAP registers, contributes meaningfully to critical skills development, job creation and growth of local enterprises” she said.

The Director General reaffirmed that the milestone is in consonance with the strategic vision of the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy driven by local capabilities, productive collaborations, and build globally competitive talents.

“No meaningful developments could happen in critical areas of our economy without the deployment of technology hence the office is making every effort to deploy technology in all its operations to ensure efficient and timely service delivery” she added.

 


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NEPC, NBS Sign MoU on Data Capturing

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Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate data collection from Informal Cross Border Trade.

NEPC, NBS Sign MoU on Data Capturing

Nonye Ayeni, executive director/CEO of NEPC, at the signing ceremony held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital said the event marked a major turning point in Nigeria’s quest to grow its export trade through the capturing of data in the informal sector.

“Existing trade data primarily capture activities within the formal sector, offering limited visibility into informal export trade transactions, despite their significant volume and economic impact. In 2024, formal export trade records indicate that 7.291 million metric tons of non-oil products valued at US$5.456 billion, were exported from Nigeria. This figure excludes informal export trade data”, she added.

She stated that the Informal cross-border trade is not just a distant, peripheral activity but real trade that fuels livelihoods, strengthens regional supply chains, and contributes significantly to our national and continental economic resilience.

According to her, “Informal export trade representing millions of dollars in goods and services has remained largely outside our official records. Informal export trade data collected by NEPC State offices from major corridors in Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Lagos, Ogun, and Adamawa reveal transactions valued at over $31.8 million in some months of 2024”.

Ayeni disclosed that reports from the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), shows that over 1.6 million bags worth of the commodity were traded informally to neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Cote D Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, and Niger Republic.

The NEPC boss pointed out that these impressive achievements were not captured in the national export trade statistics thus portending real implications for economic planning for the country.

“It weakens Nigeria’s voice in regional and global trade negotiations, it denies informal traders the recognition and support they need to thrive as well as diminishes Nigeria’s economic potential, especially the vital contributions of women, youth, and MSMEs”.

Ayeni explained that the collaboration between the Council and the NBS was borne out of the desire to correct the imbalance and capture the full spectrum of Nigeria’s export trade activity.

Adeyemi Adeniran, statistician general of the Federation, noted that the meeting of key players from national and sub-national agencies, regional institutions, international development partners, and the organized private sector, reflects the strong spirit of collaboration required to address one of the most pressing challenges in Nigeria’s trade data architecture, capturing and integrating data from informal trade and trade in services into the national framework.

Adeniran was of the view that the data gap severely impedes evidence-based policymaking, limits capacity to engage in fair trade negotiations, and undermines the accuracy of  macroeconomic indicators adding that traditional trade measurement systems have long focused on formal, large-scale transactions while overlooking the vibrancy of informal trade routes.

He disclosed that informal trade in Sub-Saharan Africa contributes between 20 to 40 per cent of intra-African trade, with Nigeria accounting for a significant share due to its long and porous borders.

“These are not just gaps in data, rather, they represent gaps in our understanding of economic life and the well-being of millions of Nigerians who engage in these activities daily”, he said

Adeniran said the collaboration with NEPC, presents a timely opportunity to update and harness current trends, identify new opportunities, and design data-informed strategies to support trade formalization, enhance competitiveness, and ultimately foster inclusive economic growth.

“Capturing informal trade data will also help us design smarter border policies, enhance food security, facilitate small and medium enterprise development, and monitor regional integration efforts,” he added.

 


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