Telecommunications companies contributed ₦4.4trillion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2025, representing 84.5% of the ₦5.2trillion generated by the wider Information and Communications sector, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated in its latest report.
The ICT sector, which also includes broadcasting, sound and media production, and publishing, accounted for 9.1% of real GDP in Q3 2025, down from 11.8% in the previous quarter. Despite the decline in quarterly share, the sector achieved year-on-year growth of 5.78%, highlighting its sustained contribution to economic expansion.
These figures show that telecom operators, mainly MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom, and T2, are the backbone of the ICT sector. The broader digital economy, which includes the financial institutions sector, contributed 11.8% of Nigeria’s real GDP, or N6.7trillion, to the country’s total N57trillion GDP in Q3 2025.
President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Tony Emoekpere, explained that the sector’s improved numbers reflect greater responsiveness from policymakers.
“The increase in revenue and contribution to GDP is a testament to the policies that have been put in place and the fact that this government has been responsive to industry needs”, he stated.
Further, the report stated that broadcasting accounted for ₦430.7bn (8.2%) and sound and media production contributed ₦379.2bn (7.2%) to the ICT sector, while publishing remained minimal at ₦9bn, representing just 0.1 percent of the total.
Overall, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.98% during the quarter, slightly below the 4.23% recorded in Q2 2025 but higher than the 3.86% growth in Q3 2024.
Evidence of recovery is visible in recent financial statements: MTN Nigeria posted a pre-tax profit of N419.61bn in Q2 2025, compared with a pre-tax loss of N179.60bn in the same period last year. Airtel Nigeria generated $333million in revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, a 30% increase year-on-year.
After years of rising energy costs and currency volatility, a long-sought 50% tariff increase approved earlier this year has given operators more room to invest. They are now pumping $1bn into network upgrades, much of it spent on Chinese equipment.
“When operators pushed for tariff reform, it was implemented. Other concerns, including cost-of-network-infrastructure issues, have been addressed”, Emoekpere said.
He noted that confidence is rising accordingly, saying: “Many operators are now planning to increase their investments in the coming years”. He also pointed to early progress on the government’s fibre programme, adding that part of the $500m World Bank-backed financing has already been approved.
Analysts say a more stubborn hurdle remains, with local participation in an industry still heavily reliant on foreign vendors. The minister, according to the analysts, has signalled new policies to encourage domestic players, a promise the industry has heard before, but which may finally stick if investment momentum continues.
