NCC Audit Reveals Mobile Coverage Reaches 78% of Nigeria’s Major Roads

In a significant step toward bridging Nigeria’s digital divide, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that mobile signal coverage now extends to 78% of the country’s major roadways.

The findings, released in a comprehensive industry performance report on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, highlight the rapid expansion of telecommunications infrastructure while exposing critical gaps in service quality and reliability.

The report, which utilized geospatial mapping and crowdsourced device data, categorized Nigeria’s transit network into trunk, primary, and secondary routes. While the 78% figure represents a win for nominal connectivity, the data suggests that “being on the grid” does not always equate to being online. Only 42% of these corridors currently support stable, high-speed 4G or 5G connectivity, leaving a majority of travelers reliant on older, less reliable 2G and 3G technologies.

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The Reality of “Black Spots” Despite the progress, the NCC flagged over 120 “critical black spots” stretches of highway exceeding five kilometers where signal loss is total. These dead zones are predominantly concentrated in the North-Central and South-East regions. Furthermore, the audit found that the dropped-call rate along high-speed corridors stands at 4.5%, more than quadruple the national target of 1%.

Umar S. Abdullahi, Special Adviser (Technical) to the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, emphasized the economic and safety implications of these findings. “Connectivity plays a central role in the movement of goods and general logistics,” Abdullahi stated. For farmers, security operatives, and emergency services, a highway signal is a lifeline, not a luxury.

Infrastructure Hurdles The path to 100% coverage remains blocked by persistent logistical challenges. Highway base stations are three times more likely to face vandalism or battery theft than those in urban centers. Additionally, 90% of these towers rely on diesel generators due to a lack of grid power, significantly driving up operational costs.

To combat these issues, the NCC is proposing several strategic interventions for 2026. These include “inter-operator roaming,” which would allow a user’s phone to automatically switch to the strongest available network regardless of their provider, and the deployment of low-frequency 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands to better penetrate rural terrain.

As part of a new 90-day government framework, the NCC has warned that operators failing to address identified black spots within the stipulated period could face stiff sanctions. For now, while Nigeria’s roads are increasingly connected, the journey toward seamless digital mobility remains a work in progress.