FG to Give Nigerian Students 100MB Free Daily Data
The Federal Government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100MB of free data every day to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms, with the initiative scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026.
The programme is being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education.
It will initially cover students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions, before being extended to other categories of learners.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.
“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1st, 2026,” Alausa said, while recognising the contribution of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to the initiative.
Under the zero-rated access scheme, participating mobile network operators will provide eligible students with 100MB of data daily for accessing educational websites and digital platforms approved under the programme.
Alausa said the initial beneficiaries would be senior secondary school and tertiary institution students, with plans to subsequently expand the initiative to other learners across the country.
He explained that the broader objective was to remove financial barriers that prevent students from accessing quality digital educational resources.
“Our ambition must be that, ultimately, no Nigerian learner should be denied access to quality educational content simply because he or she cannot afford data,” the minister said.
According to the minister, the cost of internet data remains one of the major challenges limiting digital education in Nigeria, particularly for students from low-income households.
He said removing data charges from approved educational websites and platforms would allow mobile phones, tablets and computers to function more effectively as learning tools, virtual classrooms and digital libraries.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government was considering measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16, with emphasis on ensuring that digital content available to young learners complies with safety and curriculum requirements.
“It will be regulating internet access to children below 16 years old,” Alausa said, adding that more information about the proposed measure would be provided at a later date.
Alausa also highlighted several ongoing efforts to digitise Nigeria’s education system, including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
He disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had already been geo-mapped and geolocated across the country.
The government, he added, was also digitising the Annual School Census to improve the collection of information covering student enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, internet connectivity and school safety.
Speaking on the implementation framework, the NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education would jointly determine the educational websites and platforms that would be whitelisted for zero-rated access.
Shuaibu said the approved platforms would include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, as well as technical and vocational training platforms.
He explained that the initial implementation would use the operators’ consult model, under which participating mobile network operators would provide eligible students with the daily 100MB zero-rated data allowance.
“The framework also adopts the operator’s consult model for the initial rollout of the initiative. Under this model, a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100 MB will be provided by the participating MNOs for usage on approved websites and platforms,” he said.
The NCC official added that the initiative would allow students in public secondary schools and tertiary institutions to access selected educational resources without incurring data charges.
Shuaibu further explained that the framework includes provisions requiring compliance with existing telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection.
It also provides safeguards relating to net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity, according to the NCC.
Earlier, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the cost of internet access had kept millions of students from benefiting fully from digital learning platforms.
She said the zero-rated access programme was designed to remove both economic and geographical barriers to educational resources.
“The Zero-Rated Access Initiative exists to erase that line. Its principle is simple: no learner should be shut out of educational content because of where they live or what their family earns,” Makama said.
Makama said the NCC, mobile network operators operating under ALTON, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education, and other stakeholders had undertaken research, benchmarking, testing and consultations before arriving at the framework for the initiative.
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The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, represented by the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the programme as an important step towards expanding affordable digital education in Nigeria.
He said the initiative would be particularly significant for learners living in underserved communities, while pledging the ministry’s continued support for programmes aimed at advancing digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.
