FG To Provide Students 100MB Free Daily Data From October 1
The Federal Government has announced that Nigerian students will begin receiving 100 megabytes of free daily data from October 1, 2026, to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.
The initiative, being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education, will initially cover students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.
Alausa said the initiative was designed to reduce the financial barriers preventing many students from accessing digital educational resources.
“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1st, 2026,” the minister said, while acknowledging the contribution of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria to the programme.
Under the framework, participating mobile network operators will provide beneficiaries with a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100MB, which can be used to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.
Alausa said the initiative would initially target senior secondary school and tertiary institution students before being expanded to other categories of learners.
“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.
He noted that the cost of internet data had become a significant barrier to digital education, particularly for students from low-income households.
According to him, providing free access to approved educational platforms could help transform mobile phones, tablets and computers into virtual classrooms and libraries for students who might otherwise struggle to access digital learning resources.
The minister also disclosed that the government was working on measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16, with further details expected to be announced.
He stressed that educational content accessible to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
Alausa added that the proposed measure would regulate internet access for children below 16 years, noting that further announcements would be made on the policy.
The minister said the Federal Government was also expanding the digitalisation of the education sector through initiatives including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
He disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped and geolocated across the country, while the government was digitising the Annual School Census to obtain data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the Federal Ministry of Education and the commission would jointly approve the educational platforms to be whitelisted under the initiative.
He said the approved platforms would include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, as well as technical and vocational training platforms.
Shuaibu explained that the framework adopted the operators’ consult model for the initial rollout, under which participating mobile network operators would provide a daily 100MB zero-rated data allowance for access to approved websites and platforms.
He added that the scheme would provide zero-rated access to selected learning resources for students in public secondary schools and public tertiary institutions at no cost.
According to him, the framework also requires compliance with telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection, while providing safeguards for net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
Earlier, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said millions of students were unable to access digital learning platforms because of affordability challenges.
She said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that no learner was excluded from educational content because of their location or household income.
Makama explained that the NCC, participating mobile network operators under ALTON, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education, and other stakeholders had undertaken research, benchmarking, testing and consultations before developing the framework.
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 initiative as a significant step towards making digital education more affordable and accessible, particularly for learners in underserved communities.
He pledged the ministry’s continued support for programmes aimed at promoting digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.
In his closing remarks, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, identified MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom among the major mobile network operators supporting the programme.
He commended the operators for their commitment to the implementation of the initiative through the provision of free data allowances for learners to access approved educational platforms.
Source: The Punch