Nigerian Students Await 100MB Free Data Access Initiative

Students across public secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria reported that they have not received the federal government's promised 100MB free data allocation, which was scheduled to commence on October 1, 2026. This initiative, known as the Zero-Rated Data Access to Approved Educational Platforms and Content Initiative, aims to provide eligible students with daily data allowances for accessing approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed the rollout of the initiative, stating that it is in collaboration with the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Education. Despite the announcement, students, including Victor Aondo, a final-year Microbiology student at the University of Abuja, expressed frustration over not receiving the data, indicating that they had checked their phones multiple times without success.