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How Poor Network Connectivity Impedes DPI Benefits In Nigeria
By Alfred Ajayi
Micheal Dada has been a researcher for over ten years. He experienced the era where he must visit physical library to consult authors for his work and the digital age which offers information to him just at the click of his phone or laptop powered by strong network connectivity.
“Research is my passion and I feel good any time I deliver. I joined others to beseech physical libraries to gather materials or data for researches. But ICT has given us effortless access to information and data which enrich the work. Now, I can deliver jobs to people faster than those years, accessing information from sources like world digital library, ibiblio. google books and internet archive among others”.
“There was even a time I even reached out to one of the authors of the books for further insight and we interacted virtually,” he happily recalled.
As Dada increasingly embraces digitization, he unknowingly has also been taking advantage of some Digital Public Goods, (DPGs) such as the District Health Information System (DHIS2), an open-source repository of health-related information, which avails him certain critical information.
“Through DHIS2, I freely access information on issues like maternal and child health, antenatal attendance in states of the federation and many others. We pay nothing,” he said excitedly, describing good and stable internet connectivity as an encouragement to be at his best.
“When internet connectivity is fast and efficient, I don’t feel like sleeping even at night. I am motivated to achieve my targets faster than planned.
Despite the relief brought about by digitization and recently DPI and DPGs, poor internet connectivity often experienced in his area is still a drawback.
“Frustrating enough, all the telecom service providers are having interruption and unstable network and you know writing is like a spirit, if network disrupts at the time you are motivated and in high spirit, you lose the line of thought before it gets restored.
“Poor network connectivity is an affront on my personal economy because I can’t meet target. The other day, a client gave me an analysis and due to poor network, I was unable to access data needed from the National Bureau of Statistics or Central Bank websites”.
Epileptic power supply also poses a challenge, Dada further noted. “Some time, the network is stable, but power supply is unstable. Sometime, for days and up to a week. It’s a bad one for me because the clients will call me a liar for failing to deliver as promised.
“December last year, I was meant to deliver a job for one of my clients abroad. I planned to work overnight to deliver the job in the morning. But on getting home, I was disappointed as there was no power supply throughout the night. I couldn’t surf the internet for necessary information and data.
“And you know, these days, generator is not an alternative because of the high cost of fuel sold at over N1000 per liter”.
Bruno Chimnaecherem, is a data analyst and ICT expert, who is always desperate for stable internet connectivity. “I enjoy my work when the network is at its peak.
There is this joy when you are working and encounter a challenge and you are able to speedily browse online and get the solutions to your problem. With that, you are able to submit the work even ahead of time”.
Nevertheless, Chimnaecherem has also experienced the negative side of the coin. “Of course, bad connectivity affects my output and efficiency. Connectivity has been very erratic these recent times due to poor internet connectivity. I can’t make plans again because I don’t trust all the telecoms service providers. It’s been very problematic in recent days and weeks.
He shared a more problematic experience he often has with poor internet connectivity. “Sometimes, having delivered the job, getting paid can be frustrating.
There was a time I delivered a job hurriedly so that I can use the money for something very urgent. When the man got the job that morning, he sent in my money immediately having told him the urgent need for it.
“Unfortunately, I waited the whole day and the money did not drop in my account that day. If the man resides in the same city with me, I might have gone to him that day. To salvage my situation, I begged a friend for a small amount of money to tackle the urgent need.
“On another occasion, I paid through my mobile app for a critical service I needed to deliver a job. I was debited but the organization I paid did not get the value. It stalled the process as I needed to wait for them to confirm receipt before I can access the service. As a result of that delay, I could not meet up with the deadline for delivering the job,” Chimnaecherem regretted.
Interconnectivity in Nigeria
Apart from poor network connectivity hampering the digitization drive, a larger percentage of Nigerians living in rural communities have no or limited access to internet connectivity, same as ghetto residents in urban centre.
In 2022, the International Telecommunications Union’s Measuring Digital Development Facts and Figures report shows that only 23 per cent of Nigerians and other Africans in rural areas used the internet, while 64% of urban counterparts accessed the facility. This is worse than the global statistics indicating that about 5.3 billion people (representing 66% of the world’s population) now use the internet. This is a growth rate of 6.1% over 2021. With this figure, 2.7 billion people all over the world are still left offline.
However, data from Statista, revealed that internet user penetration in Nigeria increased from 26% in 2018 to over 38% in 2022 with estimated number of internet users put at over 83 million.
The population of Nigerians using the internet is expected to grow to approximately 48 percent by 2027. While urban residents have a 21% computer access rate, rural residents have a 3.5% rate of computer access.
The wide rural-urban digital divide in the country has been traced to factors such as infrastructure deficit and limited broadband coverage, poor power supply, higher cost of deployment in rural areas as well as high cost of digital services for rural dwellers and unaffordability of devices like smartphones, laptops, and computers.
Other factors like lack of digital literacy, economic inequalities, government policies and funding gaps, urban-centric development, language and content barriers, cultural and social barriers, private sector reluctance, lack of awareness on the part of majority of rural residents, have also impacted negatively.
With over 84% of internet traffic in Nigeria generated by mobile devices, around 40% of the country’s population was already using mobile device for internet access as of 2023. The figure expected to rise to 51% in 2027. With an internet penetration rate of around 55 percent, Nigeria has around 123 million internet users.
Poor connectivity driven by many factors
Poor network connectivity in Nigeria, according to telecom experts is driven by many factors including infrastructure deficit, often marked by inadequate base stations and network towers, poor maintenance of existing infrastructure, limited fiber optic cable deployment.
The latest hike in tariff earlier approved by the Federal Government was premised on the need to assist the telecommunications service providers to procure up-to-date equipment and tackle impacts of hyper-inflation.
“In Nigeria, erratic electricity supply affecting telecom towers and high dependence on expensive diesel generators is also a huge cause of unstable internet connectivity, same as vandalism of telecom infrastructure by hoodlums and theft of cables, batteries, and other essential components,” Chris Adeola, an industry player, argued.
“Also negatively impacting the sector is multiple taxation leading to high operational costs and regulatory challenges, which cause bureaucratic delays in obtaining permits for expansion.
“There is equally the problem of insufficient frequency spectrum for growing demand as well as delays in spectrum allocation and licensing. We cannot gloss over the impact of insecurity as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and others are preventing infrastructure deployment. Many telecom workers have been kidnapped at one time or the other in the past”.
The Head, Digital Skills and Services of the Nigeria Communications Commission, (NCC), Hauwa Wakili, recently affirmed that exorbitant Right of Way (RoW) fees constitute a major barrier to expanding telecommunications networks in Nigeria, thereby hindering efforts to actualize milestones set in the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025.
According to her, expensive RoW fees significantly increase the cost of laying down fiber optic cables and other essential infrastructure, thereby discouraging telecom operators from investing and reducing the pace of deployment, especially in underserved and unserved regions of the country.
“Digital identification systems, payment systems, and seamless data exchanges are based on the availability of extensive network infrastructure. Excessive RoW fees can cause avoidable delays in deploying necessary network coverage, impacting the speed and efficiency of identity verification processes, slowing down the adoption of cashless payment systems in underserved areas, and slower data transfer rates and reduced accessibility to digital services”.
Apart from the foregoing, weather and environmental factors also impact on network connectivity. Heavy rainfall and flooding can disrupt network signals, while harsh environmental conditions affect equipment longevity. congestion and overloaded networks is yet a concern because it slows down speeds and lead to dropped calls. This is worsened by underinvestment in capacity expansion.
Also critically undermining quality network connectivity is the fact that the country depends largely on importation for telecom equipment and even expertise. Such dependence comes with economic drain as a result of unfriendly exchange which eventually impacts operational costs.
Government Poised to Improve DPI, Digitization
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, ‘Bosun Tijani, has on September, 13th, 2024, told the G20 Digital Economy Group Meeting in Maceio, Brazil, that Nigeria has recognized universal and equitable access to meaningful connectivity as a fundamental driver of progress in today’s digital age, serving as a cornerstone for accessing essential services among other benefits.
According to him, to ensure the benefits of our existing investment in digital infrastructure provides universal benefits for all, Nigeria is prioritizing digital skills and literacy by investing in the world’s largest technical talent acceleration programme (3MTT) and committing to ensuring 70% of our people are digital literate by 2027.
“Nigeria, with the support of the European Union and the World Bank, is blessed with a robust Digital ID system which has over 90% of adults in the country registered. This Digital ID system offers us a unique opportunity to leverage our well-tested inter-bank settlement system to provide a whole of government approach to the use of technology in supporting our people through critical life events”.
“With the support of the UNDP, World Bank and Gates Foundation, we are establishing a National DPI Centre to lead the development and deployment of a Data Exchange System as a component foundational platform of Nigeria’s DPI and for the interoperability of all government data.
In September 2024, the Federal Government prioritized a $2 billion project to expand Nigeria’s fiber optic network. Supported by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the European Union, and other global partners, this initiative is targeted at extending Nigeria’s fiber optic backbone from 35,000 km to 125,000 km, The expansion, if achieved is expected to improve access to fast and reliable internet, particularly in underserved areas, thereby driving economic growth and social inclusion.
Also, the Federal Government is ambitiously working towards digitalizing 80% of its activities by 2025. The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), established under the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003, is meant to bridge the digital divide by promoting universal access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in rural and underserved areas. The fund supports projects that enhance access to affordable telecommunications services, contributing to social equity and inclusion.
Joy Ajoluchipu, a public sector consultant, once noted that Nigeria’s journey towards comprehensive DPI is well underway, but the road ahead requires further foundational work and coordination. With robust systems for identity and payments already in place, the focus now shifts to building the missing data exchange infrastructure. Once achieved, Nigeria will be better positioned to integrate digital services, offering citizens more accessible, efficient, and inclusive public services.
She added.
“The country’s ability to continue advancing DPI will not only enhance its digital competitiveness but also serve as a model for other African nations. With ongoing efforts to close the gaps and foster greater interoperability, Nigeria is poised to become a leader in Africa’s digital transformation journey”.
This report is produced under the DPI Africa Journalism Fellowship Programme of the Media Foundation for West Africa and Co-Develop
