Headlines

81% of Nigerians have access to the internet in any significant way

Published

3 years ago

June 1, 2022

By Derrick Bangura

Only 12.1 per cent of the Nigerian population currently enjoys Internet services (Meaningful Connectivity) quality in the country. This is according to an indepth research by the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI).

A4AI, which explained that 81 per cent meaningful connectivity gap exists in Nigeria, claimed that only 6.6 per cent of the rural population and 16.4 per cent of the urban have good Internet service.

This is coming as broadband penetration in Nigeria hits 42.3 per cent , while users increased to 80.7 million in March. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) statistics, which revealed this, also informed that Internet users via the narrow band also rose to 145.8 million within the same period.

But A4AI explained that meaningful connectivity is a policy framework and Internet access metric to understand the quality of Internet access someone has.

To define and measure meaningful connectivity, A4AI used four different indicators that relate to the quality and functionality of an Internet connection: a 4G connection; ownership of a smartphone; an unlimited broadband connection at home, work or place of study; and daily use.

With focus on nine countries, which are Columbia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, A4AI said only 10 per cent of the total population in the countries surveyed is meaningfully connected to the Internet. It said the number rose to 14 per cent in urban areas and fell to a mere five per cent in rural areas, adding that the share of people meaningfully connected ranges greatly within the nine countries surveyed. For instance, it said Colombia; around one in four have meaningful connectivity (26.2 per cent). In Rwanda, it is only one out every 166 people (0.6 per cent).

The broadband body informed that across the nine countries surveyed, rural areas lag behind their urban counterparts in terms of Internet connectivity. On average, people in urban areas are twice as likely to be connected to the Internet compared to people in rural areas and the urban-rural gap for Internet use is 70 per cent. It however, said that in terms of meaningful connectivity, urban areas have levels of meaningful connectivity that are over three times greater when compared to rural areas and the meaningful connectivity geography gap reaches 110 per cent. It stressed that the gaps in Internet connectivity underestimate the degree to which rural areas lag behind urban ones in the quality of the access they have.

A4AI said it used these nine (countries) surveys to estimate the prevalence of each of the four pillars of meaningful connectivity by surveying mobile Internet users and using weighted projections to estimate what fraction of the population that might represent.

According to the data, in Ghana, 95.4 per cent of the population lacks meaningful connectivity with only 6.5 per cent of the population experiencing good connectivity. Kenya has 10.9 per cent meaningful connectivity with 130.3 per cent population gap. Mozambique has a 144.4 per cent connectivity gap, while only 3.6 per cent of the population gets quality service.

The report revealed that Rwanda has 266.7 per cent meaningful connectivity geography gap with just 0.6 per cent of the population having access to improved service. South Africa has a 79.7 per cent meaningful connectivity gap, with only 12.8 per cent having access. India has 54.4 per cent population gap, while only about 6.8 per cent of the population can boast of meaningful connectivity. In Indonesia, 12.7 per cent of the population has meaningful connectivity, while 48.8 per cent are without it.

It stressed that the clear trend of deeper meaningful connectivity gaps between urban and rural areas in all countries illustrates the urgency for action not just to connect rural and remote populations to the Internet but to ensure this connectivity has the essential technical capabilities to be meaningful for people living in these areas.

MEANWHILE, in addition to measuring for meaningful connectivity, the A4AI survey asked respondents about device ownership, where it made comparisons between the experiences of those who own a personal computer (including a desktop, laptop, or tablet device) and those who do not.

It revealed that in Nigeria, only 68.7 per cent of the population owns a PC, 58.6 per cent in Ghana, 50.4 per cent in Kenya, 46.3 per cent in Mozambique, 31.5 per cent in Rwanda and 64.8 per cent in South Africa. In Colombia 60.4 per cent, India 21.8 per cent and Indonesia 51.6 per cent.

Overall, A4AI said PC owners had 75.3 per cent confidence in finding a piece of information, while non-owners were only 58.2 per cent confident. It stressed that this represents a 29.3 per cent increase on informational confidence on average across countries and indicators.

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Headlines

Akwa Ibom APC Gears Up to Receive President Tinubu as Governor Umo Eno Joins Party

Published

2 weeks ago

June 20, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has announced its readiness to host President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top party leaders as it officially welcomes Governor Umo Eno into its ranks.

Speaking at a press briefing in Uyo on Friday, APC chieftain and former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, disclosed that the party was fully prepared to receive the president, Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, and governors elected on the party’s platform for the historic reception.

Governor Umo Eno had on June 6 formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, in a move widely described as a political game-changer in Akwa Ibom.

Enang, a former Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly and Niger Delta Affairs, said the governor’s defection had effectively aligned the state with the central government.

He assured Governor Eno and his supporters that the APC would embrace them wholeheartedly and honour all agreements reached.

“As progressives, we shall work with the governor and his supporters to ensure that they fit into the party without hitches,” Enang stated. “We will also work with them to align programmes of the state government with the ideals and manifesto of the party.”

He further described the governor’s move as a “merger” that promises significant benefits for Akwa Ibom and its citizens.

The planned reception is expected to mark a major political event in the state, signaling a realignment of forces ahead of future elections.

Headlines

Ekiti Launches Aggressive Anti-Flood Campaign, Dredges Ofigba River

Published

2 weeks ago

June 20, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The Ekiti State Government has intensified efforts to prevent flooding across the state with the launch of a comprehensive dredging campaign, targeting critical waterways in both rural and urban areas.

Chairman of the Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency (EKSEPA), Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection visit to the ongoing dredging project at the Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti.

Oguntoyinbo, who was accompanied by EKSEPA board members, said the visit was to assess the progress of work being carried out to mitigate flood risks in the community. He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the dredging work.

“I and other board members of EKSEPA are delighted with the level of job done by the site engineer because he is actually working with the directives of three-kilometer dredging of waterways,” he said.

According to him, the dredging commenced on June 4, and so far, 1.8 kilometers of the river have been successfully cleared.

He applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the safety and welfare of residents by initiating the state-wide anti-flooding campaign.

“I want to commend our amiable governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for embarking on zero tolerance campaign against flooding in every community and town in Ekiti,” Oguntoyinbo stated.

He also praised the General Manager of EKSEPA, Mr. Olukayode Adunmo, for his commitment to the project’s supervision and success.

In his remarks, Adunmo emphasized the urgent need to clear waterways choked by refuse, which impede water flow and contribute to flooding during the rainy season.

“Dredging of Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area is necessary because some of the waterways have been blocked by refuse,” he explained. “There is the need for us to remove every blockage to enhance free flow of water and avert flooding during heavy rainfall.”

Adunmo also commended Governor Oyebanji for taking proactive steps to protect lives and properties across the state.

Residents of Ise-Ekiti have welcomed the government’s intervention. Chief Godwin Ojo, a community leader, expressed gratitude to the governor for his timely action.

“We thank the governor for the move to avert flooding in our community,” Ojo said. “May God grant him more wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state to an enviable height.”

The dredging campaign forms part of the Oyebanji administration’s broader commitment to environmental safety and disaster prevention.

Developmental

Tinubu to visit Kaduna Thursday to inaugurate key projects

Published

2 weeks ago

June 19, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

Tinubu commiserates with Akwa Ibom governor over wife’s death

President Bola Tinubu is expected in Kaduna State Today Thursday for the inauguration of several key developmental projects executed by the administration of Gov. Uba Sani.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit forms part of activities marking Sani’s two years in office.

The projects lined up for inauguration include the 300-bed Specialist Hospital in Millennium City, Kaduna, built by the state government to bolster the provision of healthcare services.

Tinubu will also inaugurate the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, road projects in Soba, and Samaru Kataf LGA’S as well as the 24-kilometre Kafanchan Township Road.

Others are the Tudun Biri Road, the 22km road linking Kauru and Kubau LGAs as well as the Vocational and Skills Training Centre in Tudun Biri.

Tinubu is also expected to unveil 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, as part of efforts to modernise the state’s public transportation system.

The projects are part of the administration’s focus on infrastructurde evelopment, healthcare delivery, youths empowerment, and economic growth.

The state government described the visit as a significant moment for the people of Kaduna and an opportunity to showcase ongoing efforts to transform the state through impactful governance.

Sani, who marked his second year in office this month, has prioritised human capital development, rural infrastructure, and jobs creation since taking office in 2023.

Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna State was rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday.

He was initially supposed to visit Kaduna on Wednesday, but due to the recent attacks in Benue, he shifted his trip.

The president visited Benue on Wednesday to commiserate with the victims of the recent attacks and assess the humanitarian crisis.

During his visit to Benue, Tinubu met with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political and community leaders, and youth groups, to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.

He also condemned the ongoing violence and called on the residents to embrace peace and mutual understanding.

NAN recalls that the Benue Government had declared a work-free day for Tinubu’s visit, urging the residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome him.