The Federal government says the price of internet data has been reduced by more than 50 percent following a directive given to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The minister of communications and digital economy, Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami, said the goal of the directive issued to the NCC was to ensure that the average cost of internet data in the country is reduced.

The statement from Pantami's technical assistant, Femi Adeluyi, stated that the price of data of 1GB has been reduced from N1000 to N487 effective from November 2020.

Internet data: Communication minister says price crashed by 50 percent

Communication minister. Photo credit: @DrIsaPantami

The statement released on Thursday, December 10, reads partly:

“The average cost of 1GB of data has reduced from the January 2020 cost of N1,000 to N487.18 in November, 2020.
"This was based on a report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) submitted to the Honourable Minister following the implementation of the directives."

Adeluyi said the communications minister had inaugurated a committee that developed the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) in December 2019.

He explained that one of the goals of the plan is to reduce the average cost of 1GB of data to a maximum of N390 by 2025.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy through the NCC will continue to ensure that Nigerians and other consumers enjoy a price regime that supports fairness and is friendly to consumers.

The decision of the NCC was made public by its director of public affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, on Wednesday, December 9.

Meanwhile, in a bid to ensure compliance among mobile network operators until its audit of the subscriber registration database exercise is completed, the NCC has ordered the suspension of the sale of new SIM cards.

Adinde noted that the order was given by the minister of communications and digital economy, Pantami.