Nigeria’s Telecom Market Reclaims 200 Million Active Subscribers

Latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission show that active telecom subscriptions rose by 2.9 million to 200.3 million in September 2026, up from 197.4 million in August. The recovery comes after the sector lost nearly 70 million lines following the Federal Government’s National Identification Number-SIM registration enforcement in 2024.

Before the enforcement exercise, Nigeria had 224.7 million active telephone lines in December 2023. The figure dropped sharply to 154.9 million by September 2024 as operators disconnected lines that failed to meet identification requirements.

Industry observers note that sustained monthly growth could push active connections above 207 million by the end of 2026. The rebound is being driven by new SIM activations, expanding 5G coverage and rising demand for data services across the country.

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