By Benson Daniel
Nigeria’s telecommunications industry has added 44.8 million active subscriptions over the past decade, despite major fluctuations in subscriber numbers and a sharp contraction caused by the enforcement of SIM-NIN linkage requirements.
Active telecom subscriptions rose from 150.3 million in July 2016 to 195.1 million in July 2026, representing a 29.8 per cent increase over the 10-year period. The figures highlight the continued expansion of mobile connectivity and the growing importance of telecommunications to Nigeria’s economy.
The industry, however, did not experience uninterrupted growth throughout the period. Subscriber numbers initially declined after 2016, falling to 139.14 million in July 2017, before a strong recovery pushed the market to 161.79 million a year later.
Growth continued over subsequent years, with active subscriptions reaching a decade-high of 220.72 million in July 2023.
The market suffered its most significant setback in 2024 following intensified enforcement of requirements linking subscribers’ phone lines to their National Identification Numbers. Active subscriptions dropped by 54.06 million between July 2023 and July 2024, falling to 166.66 million.
The contraction represented a 24.5 per cent decline and significantly altered the trajectory of the telecommunications market.
Following the sharp drop, the sector began a gradual recovery. Active subscriptions increased by 2.67 million between July 2024 and July 2025, reaching 169.33 million.
The pace of recovery accelerated considerably over the following year. By July 2026, active subscriptions had climbed to 195.11 million, representing an increase of 25.78 million, or 15.2 per cent, compared with the previous year.
The latest figures mean the industry has recovered 28.45 million subscriptions from the July 2024 low. Despite the improvement, the market remains 25.61 million subscriptions below its July 2023 peak.
The long-term expansion reflects the increasing reliance of Nigerians on mobile communications for business, financial transactions, internet access and other digital services. The growth of mobile connectivity has also supported the wider development of Nigeria’s digital economy, creating a larger market for data services and other technology-driven products.
However, the recovery in subscriber numbers also comes against a backdrop of challenges facing telecommunications operators, including rising infrastructure costs, network investment requirements, electricity expenses and pressure to improve service quality.
For operators, the expanding subscriber base represents a significant commercial opportunity, particularly as demand for mobile data and digital services continues to increase. At the same time, maintaining sustainable growth will depend on continued investment in network capacity and broader access to reliable telecommunications services.
The decade-long figures therefore present a mixed picture: Nigeria’s telecom market is substantially larger than it was in 2016, but it has also demonstrated how regulatory measures and market disruptions can produce significant changes in subscriber numbers within a short period.
With active subscriptions now above 195 million, the industry has regained much of the ground lost during the 2024 contraction and is once again moving towards the levels recorded before the major SIM-NIN enforcement exercise.
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