Every time I hear people celebrating Nigeria’s telecom growth, I can’t help but pause. Yes, the number of active voice subscriptions rose slightly—from 171.57 million to 173.54 million—but that tiny change doesn’t feel like real progress. It makes me wonder if we’re truly moving forward or just getting comfortable with numbers that look good on paper.

We keep hearing that broadband penetration is almost at 50%, but when our national target is 70%, it’s hard to see this as a win. Even with millions connected through high-speed internet and mobile networks, many of us still struggle with unreliable service and limited options. The market feels too controlled by a few big players, leaving the rest of us with little choice and even less power.

I want to believe in the government’s plans—the fibre rollout, the World Bank funding, the training programs—but part of me is unsure. Will these promises actually make life easier for people like you and me, or will they remain big announcements that never reach our homes and workplaces? Even collaborations with local manufacturers sound hopeful, yet I’m not convinced they will fix the deeper issues holding the industry back.

When I see MTN holding more than half of the market, it’s clear just how hard it is for smaller providers to compete. And though telecoms contribute significantly to the economy, I still wonder how much of that benefit really trickles down. At the end of the day, the numbers may sound impressive, but if ordinary Nigerians don’t feel the change, can we truly call it progress?