Telecommunications companies contributed N4.4tn to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter of 2025, representing 84.5 per cent of the N5.2tn generated by the wider Information and Communications sector, the National Bureau of Statistics stated in its latest report.
The ICT sector, which also includes broadcasting, sound and media production, and publishing, accounted for 9.1 per cent of real GDP in Q3 2025, down from 11.8 per cent in the previous quarter. Despite the decline in quarterly share, the sector achieved year-on-year growth of 5.78 per cent, highlighting its sustained contribution to economic expansion.
These figures show that telecom operators, mainly MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom, and T2, are the backbone of the ICT sector. The broader digital economy, which includes the financial institutions sector, contributed 11.8 per cent of Nigeria’s real GDP, or N6.7tn, to the country’s total N57tn GDP in Q3 2025.
The President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Tony Emoekpere, explained that the sector’s improved numbers reflect greater responsiveness from policymakers.
“The increase in revenue and contribution to GDP is a testament to the policies that have been put in place and the fact that this government has been responsive to industry needs,” he told The PUNCH.
Further, the report stated that broadcasting accounted for N430.7bn (8.2 per cent) and sound and media production contributed N379.2bn (7.2 per cent) to the ICT sector, while publishing remained minimal at N9bn, representing just 0.1 per cent of the total.
Overall, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.98 per cent during the quarter, slightly below the 4.23 per cent recorded in Q2 2025 but higher than the 3.86 per cent growth in Q3 2024.
Evidence of recovery is visible in recent financial statements: MTN Nigeria posted a pre-tax profit of N419.61bn in Q2 2025, compared with a pre-tax loss of N179.60bn in the same period last year.
Airtel Nigeria generated $333m in revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, a 30 per cent increase year-on-year.
After years of rising energy costs and currency volatility, a long-sought 50 per cent tariff increase approved earlier this year has given operators more room to invest. They are now pumping $1bn into network upgrades, much of it spent on Chinese equipment.
“When operators pushed for tariff reform, it was implemented. Other concerns, including cost-of-network-infrastructure issues, have been addressed,” Emoekpere said.
He noted that confidence is rising accordingly. “Many operators are now planning to increase their investments in the coming years,” he added. He also points to early progress on the government’s fibre programme: part of the $500m World Bank-backed financing has already been approved.
Analysts say a more stubborn hurdle remains local participation in an industry still heavily reliant on foreign vendors. The minister, according to the analysts, has signalled new policies to encourage domestic players, a promise the industry has heard before but which may finally stick if investment momentum continues.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is rolling out Project Bridge, a plan to construct 90,000 km of new fibre optic infrastructure, aimed at connecting all six geopolitical zones and increasing internet penetration, particularly in underserved rural areas.
The expansion will build on the existing national fibre backbone, targeting 125,000 km by 2027, and aims to raise internet penetration to 70 per cent by 2025 and 80 per cent for underserved populations by 2027.
