FG To Give Nigerian Students Free Daily Internet From October 1
Nigerian students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions are set to enjoy free daily internet access from October 1, 2026.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative on Thursday in Abuja while unveiling the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.
According to Alausa, the programme is designed to remove the cost of internet access as a barrier to digital education and improve students’ access to online learning resources.
“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1st, 2026,” the minister said.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, mobile network operators and other stakeholders.
Under the arrangement, students will access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms without paying for the data used on those platforms.
Alausa said the programme would initially cover students in senior secondary and tertiary institutions before being extended to other categories of learners.
He said the government’s long-term goal was to ensure that no Nigerian learner was denied quality educational content because of an inability to afford internet data.
The minister identified the cost of internet services as one of the factors limiting students’ participation in digital learning, particularly those from low-income households.
He said improved connectivity would enable students to use smartphones, tablets and computers more effectively for accessing learning materials, just as they would use classrooms and libraries.
Alausa also disclosed that the government was considering regulations concerning internet access for children below 16 years.
He said the proposed measures would ensure that online materials accessible to children were appropriate, credible, safe and consistent with educational objectives and the national curriculum.
The minister added that further details of the proposed regulation would be announced subsequently.
He also highlighted other digital education initiatives, including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
According to him, the government has already geo-mapped and geo-located more than 240,000 schools across the country.
Alausa said efforts were also underway to digitise the Annual School Census to improve information on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, internet connectivity and school safety.
Providing details of the free internet programme, NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said educational platforms would be jointly selected and approved by the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education.
He said the approved platforms would include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms and technical and vocational training services.
Shuaibu explained that participating mobile network operators would provide a daily zero-rated data allowance for students to access approved educational websites and platforms.
He added that the arrangement would cover students in public secondary and tertiary institutions without charging them for data used on the approved platforms.
According to him, participating organisations would still comply with existing telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection.
The framework also contains safeguards relating to net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity, he said.
NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the cost of connectivity had prevented millions of students from taking full advantage of online educational resources.
Makama said the initiative was designed to ensure that neither a student’s location nor family income determined access to approved digital learning materials.
Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the initiative as a major step towards expanding digital education.
Adeyemo said the programme would be particularly beneficial to students in underserved communities and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to affordable connectivity and digital inclusion.
MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom were identified among the major mobile network operators supporting the initiative.
NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, commended the operators for supporting the programme and providing free data allowances for learners accessing approved educational platforms.
