Two SIMs, a power bank and at least one data plan running low: most Nigerians already know how central the phone is to daily life. The numbers make it clearer, and they also show a few things that might surprise you.
Here are the most up-to-date statistics on how Nigerians use their phones in 2026, each linked to its source.
Lines and Networks
- Nigeria had 195.11 million active mobile lines in July 2026, a teledensity of 90%. (NCC data, via The Journal Nigeria)
- MTN leads with 100.86 million lines (51.76%), followed by Airtel with 66.76 million (34.26%), Glo with 23.63 million (12.13%) and T2, formerly 9mobile, with 3.61 million (1.85%). (NCC, July 2026)
- Active lines fell from 224.7 million at the end of 2023 to 164.9 million at the end of 2024 as the NIN-SIM linkage was enforced. The market has since recovered about 28 million lines. (NCC, via The Journal Nigeria)
- Operators added 2.56 million active lines in June 2026 alone. (NCC, via Tribune)
Internet and Data
- 157.27 million mobile internet subscriptions were active in July 2026. (NCC, July 2026)
- Broadband subscriptions reached 124.42 million, a penetration of 57.40%. Broadband crossed 50% in late 2025. (NCC, July 2026; GSMA)
- Nigerians used about 1.5 million terabytes of data in May 2026. (NCC, via Nairametrics)
- More than a third of mobile subscribers were still on 2G networks in May 2026. (Nairametrics)
Who Owns a Smartphone
- 75% of Nigerians in major cities own a smartphone, up from 64% in 2023. (KPMG and Orange, Nigeria Smartphone Study, 13,251 respondents in 12 cities)
- 140 million Nigerians live under mobile broadband coverage but don't use mobile internet, up from 120 million in 2023. (GSMA)
- 66% of urban Nigerians use mobile internet, against 33% in rural areas. (GSMA Consumer Survey 2025)
- 42% of Nigerians who don't use mobile internet say they don't own a device that can. (GSMA, State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026)
Why Phones Cost More
- For the poorest 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, an entry-level smartphone costs 76% of a month's income. The global figure for low- and middle-income countries is 44%. (GSMA)
- Memory chip prices more than doubled between Q3 2025 and Q1 2026, then rose another 80% to 90% in Q2 2026. Phones under $100 are hit hardest. (GSMA)
- The GSMA plans to pilot a ₦56,000 ($40) smartphone in Nigeria and five other African markets. (GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition)
What the Numbers Mean
Nigeria is not short of network. It's short of phones people can afford. Most of the 140 million people who are offline already live where the signal reaches. What stops them is the price of the device (stat 12), and stat 14 says that price is going up, not down, because the memory inside every phone has more than tripled in cost in a year.
If you've noticed phone prices climbing faster than the Naira alone would explain, that's why.
Coverage was the last decade's problem. The device is this one's.
Two things follow for anyone buying a phone this year. First, a good used phone is now one of the smartest buys in the market, because older flagships were built before the memory price spike. Second, a phone that lasts matters more than ever, so buy one that will keep getting updates and that someone will stand behind if it fails.
Buying Smart in 2026
- A new Android on a budget: the Samsung Galaxy A06 (4GB/64GB, dual SIM) is ₦220,800. Dual SIM means your MTN and Airtel lines in one phone. See every model in our Samsung phone price guide.
- A flagship for less: a UK Used iPhone 11 64GB is ₦264,800 and an iPhone 12 64GB is ₦288,800. Full list in our UK Used iPhone price guide.
- Check updates before you buy used: read which UK Used Samsungs still get security updates.
- Check the IMEI: since the NIN-SIM enforcement, a blacklisted or unregistered phone can be a real problem. Dial *#06# to see the IMEI, and ask the seller to show you a blacklist check for it.
- Thinking about eSIM? Read eSIM or physical SIM in Nigeria before you choose.
Prices are live store prices at the time of writing. Statistics are from the sources linked beside each one.
Buying from Ziggatech
- 12-month warranty, honoured in person at our Ikeja store.
- 7-day exchange and 48-hour damage cover.
- Same-day delivery in Lagos on orders placed before 12 PM, and 2–3 business days nationwide.
- Trade in your current phone and pay only the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mobile phone users are in Nigeria in 2026?
Nigeria had 195.11 million active mobile lines in July 2026, according to the NCC, a teledensity of 90%. Many people use more than one line, so the number of individual users is lower.
What percentage of Nigerians own a smartphone?
75% of Nigerians in major cities own a smartphone, up from 64% in 2023, according to a KPMG and Orange study of 13,251 people in 12 cities.
Which network has the most subscribers in Nigeria?
MTN, with 100.86 million active lines and a 51.76% market share in July 2026. Airtel is second with 66.76 million.
Why are phones getting more expensive in Nigeria?
Beyond the exchange rate, the cost of memory chips inside phones more than doubled between late 2025 and early 2026, then rose another 80% to 90% in Q2 2026, according to the GSMA. Budget phones are hit hardest.
