The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a nationwide public consultation on plans to provide free internet access for students across Nigeria as part of efforts to improve digital learning and expand access to quality education.
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The initiative follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at removing the cost barriers that prevent millions of students from accessing online educational resources. According to the Commission, the public consultation opened on June 19 and will run until July 9, giving stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the development of the programme.
The proposed initiative seeks to address the growing digital divide affecting Nigerian learners, many of whom struggle to participate in online education due to the high cost of internet data. To drive the project, the NCC has established a Joint NCC-Industry Committee responsible for designing a sustainable framework that will provide students with uninterrupted access to educational content and digital learning platforms.
As part of the proposal, the committee is evaluating two implementation models. The first involves creating a centralized, mobile-friendly portal that will host and link students to approved educational resources. The second option would require telecommunications companies to whitelist curriculum-approved educational websites, allowing students to access them without consuming data.
The Commission is also considering eligibility guidelines to ensure the programme remains effective and financially sustainable. Current proposals include restricting free data access to students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions or extending the benefit to all learners in primary and secondary schools nationwide.
To maintain the educational focus of the initiative, only learning materials approved by recognized regulatory bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) will qualify for free access. Social media platforms, entertainment websites, video streaming services, and other non-educational content will be excluded from the programme.
Funding remains one of the key considerations for the initiative. Under the proposal, the scheme will begin with a 12-month pilot phase during which eligible students will receive free daily data allowances. The programme is expected to be supported through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), government funding, and contributions from international development partners, including UNICEF.
Following the pilot phase, the NCC plans to introduce highly subsidised educational data bundles while conducting bi-annual assessments to evaluate network performance, programme usage, and its impact on students’ academic outcomes.
The Commission has invited educators, telecommunications operators, civil society organisations, and members of the public to submit evidence-based recommendations to help shape the final framework. Interested stakeholders are required to send their submissions in PDF format to [email protected] on or before July 9.
The NCC said the consultation is designed to ensure the programme promotes digital inclusion while maintaining fair market competition and preserving the principles of net neutrality.
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