The Federal Government will begin providing Nigerian students with 100 megabytes of free daily data from October 1, 2026, to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.
The initiative is being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and telecommunications operators.
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative in Abuja at the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.
Under the programme, students will receive a daily 100MB data allowance for accessing approved educational websites and digital learning platforms without paying for the data used on those platforms.
The initiative will initially target students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions, while other categories of learners are expected to be included at a later stage.
Alausa said the policy was designed to ensure that no learner is denied access to quality educational content simply because they cannot afford internet data.
He noted that the cost of data remains a major barrier to digital learning, particularly for students from low-income households, making mobile devices increasingly important as classrooms, libraries and learning centres.
The minister said the Federal Government was also expanding digital education through initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
He disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped or geolocated as part of efforts to improve education planning and digital connectivity.
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The government is also digitizing the Annual School Census to capture information on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the Federal Ministry of Education and the NCC would jointly approve and whitelist educational websites and platforms eligible for the free-data arrangement.
Eligible resources will include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher-development platforms and technical and vocational training resources.
Participating mobile network operators will provide the daily 100MB zero-rated allowance to eligible users accessing the approved platforms.
The government said the framework would comply with existing telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection. The framework will also include measures to protect net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
Alausa said the government was working on measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16, adding that educational content made available through the programme would need to be appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with the national curriculum.
NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said millions of students currently face difficulties accessing digital learning resources because of the cost of data.
She said the initiative was developed through research, benchmarking, testing and consultations involving the NCC, mobile network operators, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and other stakeholders.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, was represented at the event by Adetunji Adeyemo, who described the programme as an important step towards making digital education more affordable, particularly for underserved communities.
NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, identified MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom among the major mobile network operators supporting the initiative.
He appreciated the operators for their commitment to providing the free data service and supporting the government’s efforts to expand access to digital education across Nigeria.
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