Poor Tech Access Slowing Nigeria's Digital Economy, Industry Expert Warns

Limited access to genuine technology products and dependable technical support remains a major obstacle to digital inclusion in Nigeria despite technology's growing role in education, business and economic activities, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Blessing Computers Limited, Mr Blessing Usinode, has said.

Usinode disclosed this in a statement on Friday, as the company marked more than 20 years of operations. The declaration comes at a time when Nigeria's digital economy is projected to generate $18.3 billion in revenue by 2026, yet millions of citizens remain effectively shut out of the opportunities that digital technology creates.

He said technology had become central to modern life, driving education, business operations, professional productivity and access to economic opportunities. "Technology has quietly become the infrastructure of modern life. It powers how students learn, how businesses operate, how professionals deliver their best work, and how individuals stay connected to the opportunities around them," he said.

The challenge Usinode identifies sits at the heart of a fundamental contradiction in Nigeria's digital story. Nigeria is a country surging in internet access, yet struggling with the quality, affordability, and accountability of that access. Rising data tariffs, hidden consumption, and persistent network inefficiencies are converging into what users describe as a silent digital tax — one that is quietly eroding incomes and trust.

The problem extends beyond internet connectivity. Even Nigerians who have access to the internet frequently lack access to the quality devices, genuine software, and reliable after-sales technical support that turn a broadband connection into a meaningful economic tool. Counterfeit and substandard technology products flood the market, exposing consumers to products that fail prematurely and leave them without support.

The challenge of poor tech access is compounded by deeper structural problems in Nigeria's digital infrastructure. Broadband penetration stood at about 48.81 per cent as of August 2025, below the 70 per cent target of the National Broadband Plan, while only about 23 per cent of rural communities currently have internet access.

In late 2025, Nigeria had 109 million internet users, equal to about 45.5 per cent of the population, while nearly 130 million people were offline, mostly in underserved regions. This means Nigeria's digital economy is large, burgeoning and indispensable to national growth, but still finding it difficult with structural gaps in connectivity, regulation and inclusion.

According to the Network Readiness Index, Nigeria scored low in digital readiness assessments, ranking around 106th out of 134 countries, indicating a significant gap in its digital infrastructure and capabilities compared to other nations. Poor infrastructure, including unreliable power supply, hinders digital adoption, and the lack of basic digital skills among the population also contributes to low digital readiness.

Regulatory bottlenecks, including high right-of-way charges imposed by some states, have increased operating costs for telecom operators, ultimately driving up the cost of connectivity for end users and creating further barriers to access.

Building a truly connected Nigeria requires closing a massive investment gap for digital infrastructure, estimated to reach at least $1.6 trillion globally. Meaningful digital connectivity has become a vital foundation for communities, businesses and governments worldwide, with improving access to education, healthcare, employment, and financial services boosting people's capacity, quality of life and income, especially in rural areas.

Unlocking the full value of Nigeria's digital economy requires stronger governance frameworks, deeper talent development, sustained digital infrastructure investment, and enhanced regional collaboration.

Despite the challenges, Nigeria's digital economy trajectory remains compelling for those who can access it. Agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and energy have been identified as sectors offering major opportunities for AI-driven growth but still lagging in technology adoption. AI can improve yields, strengthen healthcare delivery, expand digital learning, support smarter infrastructure planning, and accelerate Nigeria's transition to cleaner and smarter energy systems.

With coordinated policies and proper execution, Nigeria could create millions of jobs while emerging as a continental leader in the AI-powered global digital economy.

Usinode's warning, delivered as Blessing Computers marked over two decades of service in Nigeria's technology retail and support ecosystem, is a call to action for government, regulators, and private sector players to close the gap between Nigeria's digital ambitions and the on-the-ground reality experienced by millions of citizens.

Industry leaders have consistently called for greater investment in digital literacy programmes, stronger regulation of the technology products market to eliminate counterfeit goods, the expansion of broadband infrastructure to rural communities, and the development of affordable financing options that bring genuine technology products within reach of a broader segment of the population.

They also emphasise the need for a well-functioning after-sales support ecosystem — trained technicians, accessible service centres, genuine spare parts, and reliable warranties — that gives Nigerians the confidence to invest in technology knowing that support will be available when they need it.

For a country whose digital economy is being counted on to drive the next phase of economic diversification and youth employment, the warning from a veteran technology retailer is timely and deserves serious attention from policymakers, investors, and institutional leaders across the public and private sectors.