As of January 2022, Nigeria had more than 109 million internet users the highest number reported all over Africa. Meanwhile, Egypt ranked second with over 75 million users. Nigeria also had the highest number of social media users at over 65 million. The country has a population of over 200 million people.
The high number of internet users in Nigeria is attributed to the country’s growing economy and increasing access to mobile devices and broadband connectivity. The Nigerian government has also been working to improve infrastructure and connectivity in recent years.
Internet Penetration
Internet penetration is defined as the percentage of a population that has access to the internet. This can be calculated by taking the number of internet users and dividing it by the total population.
Despite the high number of internet users, Nigeria still lags behind other countries in terms of internet penetration. The country has an internet penetration rate of only about 51 percent. This means that only about half of the population has access to the internet.
The private sector has had private companies that are also investing in expanding access to the internet. The goal is to reach a point where everyone in Nigeria has access to the internet.
Challenges To Internet Adaption In Nigeria
A lack of digital skills has been identified as the biggest barrier to internet adoption in Nigeria. A lack of awareness about the internet and its potential benefits is also a significant challenge.
Other challenges include the high cost of internet access, lack of reliable infrastructure, and limited content in local languages.
There is a need to develop content in local languages and make it more affordable for people to access the internet.
The Cost Of Internet In Nigeria
The cost of internet in Nigeria is still relatively high compared to other countries in the world. The average cost of 1GB data bundle in 2022 is around $1 but this is a significant drop from 8 years ago as in 2014 the cost of 1 GB internet was $11.15
Having said that Nigeria was among the countries in Africa with lower cost of mobile data in Africa.
The cost of internet is a major barrier to access, especially for people who live in rural areas or have low incomes.
In order to increase internet penetration, the cost of internet needs to be lowered. One way to do this is by increasing competition among broadband providers.
