Nigeria’s push to deepen fifth-generation connectivity is coming under renewed pressure after fresh data revealed a widening gap between consumer readiness and actual network availability in the country’s major urban centres.
An analysis released by the Nigerian Communications Commission showed that more than 57,000 users in Lagos and Abuja own 5G-enabled devices but are unable to access 5G services due to limited network coverage. Lagos alone accounts for 41,057 5G-capable smartphones without active access, while Abuja has 16,143, underscoring the scale of unmet demand in Nigeria’s most digitally active markets.
The commission’s Network Performance and 5G Opportunity Analysis highlighted significant coverage shortfalls. Lagos recorded an average 5G coverage gap of 70.9 per cent, while Abuja posted 65.6 per cent, indicating that large portions of both cities remain outside effective 5G reach despite the commercial launch of the technology.
Nigeria issued nationwide 5G licences to major telecom operators in 2021, with clear rollout obligations tied to phased urban deployment, compliance with global quality benchmarks on speed and latency, and efficient use of assigned spectrum within defined timelines. More than three years later, the latest data suggests that progress has fallen behind expectations.
Regulators noted that while consumer adoption of 5G-ready devices has accelerated, network expansion has not kept pace, limiting the real-world impact of the technology. As a result, the promised benefits of faster speeds, lower latency and support for advanced digital services have yet to translate into everyday user experience for many Nigerians.
The commission stressed that Nigeria’s 5G challenge is no longer driven by demand but by network readiness, warning that continued delays in rollout could slow digital innovation, constrain business productivity and weaken the country’s broader digital economy ambitions. It urged operators to move beyond licence commitments and accelerate tangible service delivery to ensure users are not left disconnected from the next phase of digital development.
