Nigeria, recognized as Africa’s largest smartphone market, is witnessing a slow transition to cutting-edge connectivity technologies such as 5G. Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals that only around 57,200 smartphones nationwide are 5G-enabled, which accounts for a mere 0.05% of the country’s 140 million smartphone users.
According to the Nigeria Network Performance and 5G Opportunity Analysis by the NCC, the majority of these 5G-capable devices-over 41,000-are concentrated in Lagos, while the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) hosts nearly 16,000. This uneven distribution highlights the stark digital divide between Nigeria’s urban hubs and its rural communities, a disparity that continues to influence the nation’s mobile connectivity landscape.
While Lagos and Abuja benefit from network speeds and performance metrics that surpass the national average by 40-50%, much of the country still depends on legacy 2G and 3G networks. In less urbanized areas, users contend with sluggish internet speeds, unreliable connections, and limited coverage, which hampers their access to digital services such as remote education, e-commerce, and mobile banking. The NCC report stresses the critical need to extend 4G and 5G infrastructure beyond these metropolitan centers to foster equitable digital inclusion.
The commercial rollout of 5G in Nigeria, initiated by MTN Nigeria in 2022, marked a milestone despite its limited reach. Presently, only MTN and Airtel have launched 5G services commercially, whereas Mafab Communications, although licensed for 5G, has yet to activate its network three years post-licensing.
MTN and Airtel continue to upgrade their networks, but widespread 5G adoption remains constrained by the steep prices of compatible devices and patchy network availability. MTN leads in overall network quality nationwide, delivering strong download and upload speeds coupled with low latency. Airtel follows closely, particularly excelling in download speeds, though it still faces challenges in reducing latency. Even in Lagos and Abuja, significant 5G coverage gaps persist-exceeding 70% and 65%, respectively-meaning many users with 5G-capable phones cannot reliably connect to the network.
Affordability of 5G smartphones is a major barrier. As of 2025, entry-level 5G devices cost between ₦160,000 ($114) and ₦200,000 ($143), while mid-range models range from ₦250,000 ($179) to ₦400,000 ($286). This pricing is steep in a country where the minimum monthly wage stands at ₦70,000 ($50). Premium smartphones like the iPhone 15 series and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are priced between ₦1 million ($714) and ₦3 million ($2,143), placing them beyond the financial reach of most Nigerians. GSMA estimates indicate that the price of a basic smartphone consumes nearly half of a low-income earner’s monthly income, compelling millions to continue relying on older 3G and 4G handsets.
Currently, Nigeria’s smartphone penetration rate is estimated between 65% and 68%, positioning it among the fastest-growing markets globally. Forecasts predict this figure will surpass 70% by 2026, with active smartphone users reaching 150 million. Despite this surge in device ownership, bridging the divide between smartphone possession and access to high-speed internet remains a formidable challenge.