Nigeria: Telecommunications Players Invest N2.13Trillion In 2025, To Funnel N1.86 Trillion In 2026, In Capital Expenditure
By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operator of Nigeria(ALTON) Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, was invited as a special guest and keynote speaker to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI) ICTEL Conference and Expo 2026, holding from July 28-29, and one of the strongest points he made in his presentation titled: Building Nigeria’s Digital Economy: Telecommunications as the Foundation for Investment, Innovation and Inclusive Growth, was that given the potential opportunities the industry boasts of, continuous investment was critical to sustaining it.
Engr. Adebayo stated: “None of the opportunities before us can be realised without sustained private sector investment. Telecommunications remains one of the most capital-intensive sectors of the Nigerian economy. Every kilometre of fibre deployed, every base station constructed, every 5G site commissioned and every rural community connected requires significant long-term investment.”
Adebayo acknowledged the Federal Government for the strategic tariff adjustment approved
in 2025, saying that policy intervention played a pivotal role in restoring industry sustainability, enabling operators to move from a period of severe financial pressure to one of renewed capital reinvestment and network expansion.
Saying the results are already evident, the ALTON boss revealed that in 2025, Mobile Network Operators, Tower Companies and other industry players invested approximately ₦2.13 trillion(US$1.56billion) in capital expenditure. For 2026, he said, the industry has planned an additional ₦1.86 trillion in investment to expand network infrastructure, modernise technology, improve resilience and enhance quality of service across the country.
“These figures demonstrate that, despite prevailing economic headwinds, telecommunications
operators remain firmly committed to building Nigeria’s digital future,” Adebayo said.
