Nigeria's mobile connections hit 200.34 million as SIM recovery continues

Nigeria's active mobile connections rose to 200.34 million in September 2026, up from about 182.2 million in January, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The data put active connections at 200,337,097, the first time the country has crossed the 200 million mark since the 2024 NIN-SIM verification exercise.

Operators added and reactivated more than 18.1 million SIM connections in the first nine months of the year. The increase represents a recovery of about 18.1 million connections in nine months, helped by returning subscribers and fresh SIM registrations.

NIN-SIM clean-up cut millions of lines

The recovery follows the Federal Government's NIN-SIM verification exercise. The NCC and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) enforced the mandatory NIN-SIM linkage policy, with the final deadline set for September 14, 2024, to ensure mobile numbers were linked to verified national identities.

The exercise removed approximately 59.7 million lines from telecommunications networks. Active mobile connections fell from 224.7 million in 2023 to 164.9 million by December 2024. Subscribers whose lines were disconnected have gradually returned to the networks after resolving registration and biometric verification issues. Fresh SIM registrations have also contributed to the recovery.

4G carries the largest share

The latest NCC figures put Nigeria's teledensity at 92.41%. Fourth-generation (4G) technology accounted for the largest share of connections, with approximately 108.7 million lines, representing 54.3% of the total. The remaining connections were distributed across 2G and 3G networks as operators continue to expand 4G infrastructure and gradually move towards newer technologies.

The September 2026 figures show that mobile connections have recovered beyond the 200 million threshold, although they remain below the 224.7 million recorded before the major clean-up. The NCC data also does not mean Nigeria has 200 million individual mobile phone users.

What it means for businesses

A larger subscriber base gives telecom operators room to grow revenue from voice calls, internet subscriptions and other digital services. Mobile networks support electronic payments, digital banking, online shopping, education, entertainment and business transactions. The expansion of connectivity could also support financial inclusion and improve access to digital services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. For Nigerian businesses, the recovery in connections points to a wider customer base, even as operators still operate below the pre-clean-up peak.