Nigeria's Telecoms Sector Grows 10.38% in Q2 2026

In the second quarter of 2026, Nigeria's telecommunications and information services sector contributed N5.20 trillion to the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reflecting a 10.38% year-on-year growth, up from 7.39% in Q2 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This sector's contribution represented 9.72% of real GDP, making it the fourth-largest contributor to Nigeria's economic output.

The overall economy grew by 4.43% year-on-year, indicating that the telecommunications sector expanded at more than twice the pace of the broader economy. The growth was primarily driven by increased demand for data, with revenue from data rising 59.9% to $263 million, while voice revenue increased by 42.6% to $191 million.

Airtel Nigeria's customer base grew by 12% to 60.1 million, and data customers increased by 11% to 32.5 million. The Nigerian Communications Commission reported that daily data consumption reached approximately 45,800 terabytes, underscoring the rapid growth in internet usage.