Telecoms Contribution to Nigeria's GDP Grows to 9.19% in Q1 2026

Nigeria's telecoms sector has demonstrated a steady recovery in its contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reaching 9.19 percent in the first quarter of 2026. This marks a significant increase from 7.67 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The sector's GDP contribution has experienced a dynamic trajectory. After peaking at 16.06 percent in the second quarter of 2023, it saw a decline, dropping to 8.93 percent in Q2 2024 and further to 7.51 percent in Q3 2024, following a rebasing of the sector by the NCC. However, a consistent upward trend began in late 2024, with contributions rising from 7.51 percent in Q3 2024 to 7.80 percent in Q4 2024, and continuing to climb to 8.50 percent in Q1 2025 and 9.20 percent in Q2 2025.

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, attributed the recent growth primarily to a 50 percent tariff adjustment approved by the NCC in 2025. He explained that this adjustment enhanced investor confidence, encouraging more investment in network upgrades and expansion to improve service quality. "The growth in telecoms’ sector contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, is as a result of the continuous investments in the telecoms sector, largely driven by the right government policies and regulatory standards," Adebayo stated.

Adebayo also commended the federal government's economic policies and the regulator's effectiveness, stating that the sector's performance is a combination of factors that have boosted the Nigerian economy. He emphasized that effective regulation is crucial for sector growth and its subsequent impact on GDP contribution.

“

The growth in telecoms’ sector contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, is as a result of the continuous investments in the telecoms sector, largely driven by the right government policies and regulatory standards.