Telecom operators in Nigeria recorded a sharp decline of 33,153,633 subscribers in three years (May 2023 – April 2026), according to the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) latest industry statistics.

According to the telecom industry statistics, the figure showed that 4,270,285 of mobile subscribers were lost between May 2023 (220,931,688) and April 2024 (216,661,403), while the sector had repeat of the negative record with a huge drop of 46,338,623 subscribers be­tween May 2024 (219,005,878) and April 2025 (172,667,255).

There was a significant positive in­crease between May 2025 (172,474,626) and April 2026 with 187,778,055 subscribers as of the latest figure issued by NCC.

The period recorded a huge increase of 15,303,429 subscribers.

In May 2023, when the current government came into power, the telecom sector had 220,931,688 subscribers. But as at April 2026 which marks exactly three years, the sector has a record of 187,778,055 subscribers.

This indicates a decline of 33,153,633 subscribers during the period under review.

Overall, according to the NCC’s figures, MTN, the largest operator with a subscriber figure of 88,675,062 as at April 2023, was a major factor in the statistics.

It gained 7,716,357 subscribers during the period under review which currently pulls 96,391,419 subscribers as at April 2026, while Airtel which had 60,331,845 subscribers in April 2023 recorded an increase of 4,338,173 subscribers, bringing its current subscriber base to 64,670,018.

On the flip side, Glo, which was trailing MTN with an impressive figure of 60,927,963 subscribers, suffered a massive loss of 37,749,366 subscribers. The development reduced its figure to 23,178,597 it currently has.

In the same vein, T2 (formerly 9mobile) which was accommodating 13,403,345 subscribers in May 2023, lost 9,865,324 subscribers.

The network, according to NCC’s April 2026 statistics, has only 3,538,021 subscribers on its base.

Despite the sharp decline recorded in the period, market stability has slowly returned.

Latest NCC figures indicate that by early 2026, telcos had started recovering lost ground, even rolling out large-scale compensation programmes to over 75 million customers due to poor network quality.

The reduction in the telcos’ active subscriptions between 2023 and 2026 can be attributed to the disconnection of SIMs that were not linked with the National Identification Number (NIN) as mandated by the government.

The development resulted in the decline of subscriptions for mo­bile services in the country.

During the period which witnessed the impact of foreign ex­change (FX) unification and the removal of the premium motor spirit subsidy, the biting economic pressures reduced consumer purchasing power which led many Nigerians to give up multiple or redundant SIM cards to cut back on monthly data costs.

The service providers lost most subscribers as a result of the Federal Government, through the industry regulator, relevant agencies and institutions like banks which came up with po­icies that demanded Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) up­dates and verifications. A change in the minimum age requirement for SIM registration (from 16 to 18 years) also contributed to a decline in gross new connections.

During the period, the industry regulator, NCC, issued new guidelines to telecommunication companies, directing them to de­activate phone lines unused for six consecutive months for Revenue Generating Event (RGE).

The new rule took a toll on the telecom operators, as many subscribers who are using more than one phone line could not be able to retain the others due to the harsh economic environment of the country.

According to the regulator, “A subscriber line may be deactivated if it has not been used, within six months, for a Revenue Generating Event (RGE), and if the situation persists for another six months, the subscribers may lose their numbers, except for a network-related fault inhibiting an RGE.”

It is common knowledge that some Nigerians are migrating to other countries of the world, and most of them may likely not continue to use their Nigerian networks’ SIM either voluntarily or perhaps any policy that needs revalidation comes up.

There was also a standing order for those who had issue(s) with their SIM cards, as the National Identity Number (NIN) in the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards by all mobile telecommunication network operators was mandatory.

The development undoubtedly interrupted the growth trend of telecom subscribers as indicated in the three years’ statistics by NCC.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched its maiden Women in Leadership Programme aimed at empowering female professionals and strengthening leadership development across Nigeria’s telecommunications and technology sector.

The initiative, unveiled during an event in Abuja, is designed to provide mentorship opportunities for emerging female professionals by connecting them with experienced women leaders within the Commission and the broader telecommunications industry.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman of the NCC,  highlighted the significant contributions women have made to the Commission, noting that they continue to excel in strategic leadership positions and play a vital role in driving the organisation’s success.

According to him, women currently head several critical departments within the Commission, including Legal Services, Information Technology, Procurement, Public Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Internal Audit, demonstrating both competence and effective leadership.

Dr Maida explained that the Women in Leadership Programme was conceived to inspire younger female professionals to aspire to senior management and executive positions by learning directly from accomplished women who have excelled in their careers.

“We have a lot of very strong women. Not only are they in positions of authority, but they also deliver. This event is needed to encourage the younger women to aspire to reach the top level of their careers,” he said.

The NCC boss also acknowledged the unique challenges women face in balancing professional responsibilities with family commitments. He commended their resilience, dedication and ability to deliver results despite these competing demands, stressing that their efforts deserve recognition and support.

Delivering the keynote address, Maryam Idris, managing director of NNPC Trading Company, urged women to deliberately invest in their personal and professional development by acquiring relevant skills, building competence and embracing lifelong learning.

She advised female professionals to confidently communicate their achievements while maintaining integrity throughout their careers, noting that technical expertise alone may not be sufficient for career advancement.

“Build your competence. Read, manage your career, find mentors and sponsors, and continue building your capacity. What you know is something nobody can take away from you,” Idris said.

Also speaking at the event, Rimini Makama, executive commissioner for Stakeholder Management, described the mentorship initiative as a strategic effort to institutionalise leadership development for women within the Commission.

She explained that the programme would establish a sustainable network of accomplished female leaders who would mentor younger professionals, ensuring that leadership development remains a continuous process beyond the tenure of individual office holders.

Makama noted that the Commission already enjoys substantial female representation in leadership positions and intends to build on that progress by preparing more women to assume strategic responsibilities in the future.

The Women in Leadership Programme underscores the NCC’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion, nurturing female talent and creating a stronger pipeline of women leaders capable of driving innovation and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening youth online safety and digital literacy through strategic collaboration with Meta, as part of broader efforts to build a digitally inclusive economy and enhance trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Group photo of Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande (left), Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa Connectivity and Innovation Policy Manager, Meta Africa, Mrs Sola Dada (middle) and DG NITDA’s rep, Ag. Director, DLCB department, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal at the event

This commitment was reiterated by the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, during the Youth Safety Summit organised by Meta at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The Summit convened stakeholders from government, industry, civil society organisations, and the education sector to advance collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring young Nigerians enjoy safe, age-appropriate, and positive online experiences.

A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Youth Online Safety Campaign and My Digital World (MDW) 2.0, initiatives developed by Meta in partnership with NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

Represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal, the NITDA DG noted that the Agency’s collaboration with Meta aligns strongly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the priority areas of Reforming the Economy for Sustained Inclusive Growth and Strengthening National Security through robust cybersecurity measures that enhance digital trust and confidence.

He explained that building a digitally skilled population capable of safely navigating the online environment is fundamental to unlocking innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic opportunities in the digital age.

Speaking on the significance of the Summit’s theme, “Advancing Youth Online Safety Through Collaborative Action,” Inuwa stressed that protecting young people online requires collective responsibility from all stakeholders.

“Today’s theme is both timely and compelling. It reminds us that while digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, and social connection, ensuring that young people can benefit from these opportunities safely is a shared responsibility,” he said.

The DG emphasised that digital literacy cannot be separated from online safety, noting that the ability to use digital tools must be accompanied by the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the digital space responsibly.

“At NITDA, we believe that digital literacy and online safety are inseparable. Equipping citizens with digital skills without teaching them how to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and ethically would leave our work incomplete,” he stated.

According to him, this philosophy is embedded in NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and the Agency’s flagship Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, through which it aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.

He further disclosed that online safety, digital citizenship, privacy, digital wellbeing, critical thinking, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy have become core competencies within the framework.

“Within this framework, online safety, digital citizenship, privacy, digital wellbeing, critical thinking and, increasingly, Artificial Intelligence literacy are treated not as optional topics, but as essential competencies for every Nigerian,“ he noted.

The DG highlighted the growing partnership between NITDA and Meta, describing it as a model for effective public-private collaboration in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

Over the past year, both organisations jointly implemented the Youth Online Safety and Wellbeing Campaign, which reached more than 94 million people and generated over 216 million impressions across Facebook and Instagram. The campaign provided millions of Nigerians with practical guidance on online safety, privacy protection, digital wellbeing, and responsible internet use.

The partnership also extended to activities marking Safer Internet Day, where members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were engaged and empowered to become advocates of responsible digital behaviour within their communities. More recently, both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital economy through innovation and inclusion at the Nigeria Digital Economy Forum.

While expressing optimism about the launch of My Digital World 2.0 and describing it as a strategic platform, Inuwa said, “We believe MDW 2.0 presents an excellent opportunity to institutionalise online safety education within Nigeria’s broader digital literacy ecosystem.”

He revealed that NITDA intends to integrate the programme into its teacher capacity-building initiatives, strengthen the resources available to its nationwide network of Digital Literacy Champions, and expand awareness campaigns through partnerships with state governments, traditional institutions, faith-based organisations, and community stakeholders.

According to him, ensuring children’s safety online requires more than secure platforms; it requires informed families, empowered educators, and digitally aware communities.

“Our shared ambition should be to ensure that every Nigerian child is supported not only by safer digital platforms, but also by informed parents, empowered teachers, and digitally confident communities,” he remarked.

Describing the launch as a significant step forward, Inuwa said the initiative marks the beginning of a deeper partnership between government and industry aimed at preparing a new generation of Nigerians for the digital future.

“Today’s launch is more than the unveiling of another programme. It is the beginning of a deeper strategic collaboration between government and industry to build a generation of Nigerians who are digitally skilled, digitally responsible, and digitally resilient,“ he stated.

He reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to working with Meta and other stakeholders to build a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem where innovation thrives, opportunities are accessible to all, and every Nigerian can participate confidently in the digital economy.

Also present at the event were the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. Both ministers reaffirmed their ministries’ commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement policies that foster a safe, inclusive, and enabling digital environment, particularly for young Nigerians, to navigate the internet responsibly and securely.