By Juliet Umeh
For years, Nigerians in rural communities have struggled with poor access to government services, from business registration to health care records, often having to travel long distances and queue endlessly. But change is happening, and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says it is determined to ensure that no citizen is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey.
At the Nigeria e-Government Summit 2025, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by the Commission’s Lagos Zonal Controller, Mr. Tunji Jimoh, explained how public-private partnerships are unlocking opportunities that directly touch the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“Universal access is no longer aspirational. It is a journey already underway,” Maida said, highlighting progress in broadband expansion, digital ID integration, and open government platforms that make services more transparent and citizen-friendly.
Already, broadband penetration has grown to 48 percent in 2025, compared to 40 percent just five years ago — a leap that translates to millions of new people getting connected. For schools and rural clinics, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) is bridging the digital divide, ensuring that children can access online learning resources and patients can benefit from telemedicine in hard-to-reach areas.
Maida also pointed out how state governments are removing barriers to connectivity: 11 states have completely waived Right-of-Way charges, while others have slashed rates significantly, paving the way for faster fibre rollout.
“These reforms are not about statistics,” he noted, “they are about ensuring a farmer in Ekiti can access weather information online, or a young graduate in Kano can register a business without unnecessary delays.”
But NCC says it is not stopping there. Trust remains central to citizen adoption of e-government platforms, which is why the Commission is introducing an industry-wide cybersecurity framework to guarantee data security and protect users from cyber threats.
Just as partnerships between regulators and innovators gave rise to Nigeria’s booming fintech sector, Maida believes collaboration will also make e-government work for the people. “Effective e-government service delivery must not be a privilege for the few, but a lived reality that improves lives, strengthens our economy, and builds trust between government and citizens,” he said.
For NCC, the goal is clear: to help Nigeria build a future where digital public infrastructure powers prosperity, inclusion, and national transformation, ensuring that every Nigerian, from the marketplace trader to the city entrepreneur, can benefit from a truly connected nation.
