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NCC targets 23m offline Nigerians with satellite broadband support
Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has unveiled plans to deploy part of its Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, to support satellite broadband operators.
The initiative aims to connect an estimated 23 million Nigerians who remain offline, as the country steps up efforts to close long-standing connectivity gaps in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
The Commission disclosed the strategy on Wednesday during its virtual presentation of the Q4 2025 Industry Performance Report, noting that satellite technologies, particularly Low Earth Orbit, LEO, systems, are becoming critical to achieving nationwide connectivity where traditional mobile networks face economic, geographic and security limitations.
Senior NCC officials said the commission intends to use the USPF to subsidise access in commercially unviable locations, ensuring that satellite broadband services remain affordable for rural and underserved populations, rather than being concentrated in urban centres.
“We encourage satellite operators to focus on areas where market forces alone cannot deliver affordable services,” the commission said, adding that USPF incentives would be tied strictly to coverage in unserved and underserved locations.
The move comes amid growing recognition of the limits of Nigeria’s terrestrial broadband expansion. While 4G and 5G deployments continue to increase, the NCC explained that the physics of spectrum, especially the mid-band frequencies used for 5G, results in smaller coverage footprints and significantly higher rollout costs outside densely populated urban areas.
In contrast, satellite broadband, particularly LEO systems, offers a complementary solution, enabling coverage across remote communities, highways and difficult terrain without the need for extensive ground infrastructure.
The NCC recently issued a landing permit to Amazon’s Project Kuiper and confirmed ongoing engagements with other satellite providers. These discussions also include consultations on Direct-to-Device, D2D, services, which could allow mobile phones to connect directly to satellites in areas without terrestrial network coverage.
According to the regulator, the consultations are focused on efficient spectrum use, preventing market distortion, and determining whether certain satellite services should prioritise rural deployment or nationwide coverage.
The Universal Service Provision Fund, established under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) No. 19 of 2003 and administered by the NCC, is a federal government initiative designed to promote universal access to information and communication technologies.
The fund aims to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide through subsidies, incentives and partnerships that support telecommunications and broadband deployment in rural, unserved and underserved communities. Its interventions span infrastructure projects such as base stations, fibre optics and community resource centres, as well as digital inclusion programmes including Digital Nigeria Centres, ICT skills training and initiatives targeting vulnerable groups.
By extending support to satellite broadband, the NCC is positioning the USPF as a critical tool for ensuring that Nigeria’s remaining offline population is not excluded from the digital economy.
NCC officials acknowledged that insecurity, vandalism and fibre cuts continue to undermine network expansion, particularly in rural areas. Telecom infrastructure has been designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) under a presidential order, with enforcement now underway in collaboration with security agencies to protect existing assets.
The commission said satellite solutions, combined with low-band spectrum refarming and stronger infrastructure protection, would help address persistent coverage gaps and improve service continuity nationwide.
The NCC also urged media organisations to rely on published performance data and official reports when assessing coverage and technology adoption, cautioning against misinterpretation of metrics such as limited 5G subscriber samples. Officials said the commission remains open to clarification and continued engagement as Nigeria pursues its long-term broadband and digital inclusion targets.
With data consumption projected to triple by the end of the decade and subscriptions expected to rise further, regulators say satellite broadband, backed by targeted public funding, could play a decisive role in connecting Nigeria’s final and most difficult-to-reach communities.
This is Chukuku, along Kuje – Gwagwalada road, Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
Wike don reach here.
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The husband of a woman accused of killing their two-year-old son stood by her in court on Thursday as she pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.
Corie Walsh, 40, appeared briefly before a judge on September 24 during a preliminary hearing in the case involving the death of her son, Barrett Walsh.
Walsh appeared in a bright red jail uniform with her hair tied back during the roughly three-minute hearing. She stood beside her attorney, who told the court that the defence had subpoenaed her treatment records from the jail.
The records, attorney Andrea Lyon later said, were requested to determine whether Walsh was receiving the mental-health treatment she needs.
The defence is also seeking to have Walsh released before trial to a hospital for treatment, despite a judge rejecting an earlier request this month.
Walsh’s husband, Michael Walsh, sat in the public gallery during Thursday’s hearing alongside an elderly couple who appeared visibly emotional.
As Walsh was led from the courtroom after the hearing, she made eye contact with her husband.
Outside the courthouse, friends comforted Michael, with one supporter telling him, “She will get through this, she’s strong.”
Michael was later heard telling another supporter that he had been “packing up” the family home.
Speaking to reporters outside court, Lyon said Walsh’s family remained firmly behind her.
“Her whole family is here today — her husband, mother, mother’s best friend,” the attorney said.
“They love her and this is not — she’s never been violent… she was psychotic. They all know that and want her to get better. This is not who she is,” Lyon added.
According to court documents, Walsh’s two older children discovered Barrett with a rope around his neck and his feet off the ground in the basement of the family’s home in Frankfort, a suburb about 30 miles southwest of Chicago.
The children reportedly ran to a neighbour’s house for help.
The neighbour called 911 and attempted CPR on the toddler, but he had no pulse and was cold to the touch. Barrett was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy determined that the child, affectionately known as “Bear,” died from “asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck,” according to court records.
Police later found Walsh fully clothed in a bathtub containing bloodied water. Investigators allege that she had attempted to kill herself by cutting her wrists and thighs with a dull kitchen knife.
Court documents further allege that Walsh confessed to killing her son and described him as the “anti-Christ” and “devil.”
The case has drawn particular attention because prosecutors allege Walsh had become intensely focused on the high-profile case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children.
Clancy’s defence argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis and was legally insane when she fatally strangled her children with exercise bands. Her trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial.
According to Walsh’s defence team, she had discussed the Clancy case with neighbourhood friends shortly before Barrett was found.
During an earlier hearing, defence attorney Robert Kerr said Walsh had sent several “confusing” and “out of character” messages about the Clancy case.
Kerr told the court that Walsh had initially expressed one view about Clancy’s case before suddenly changing her position.
A witness reportedly described Walsh as abruptly saying that Clancy was “100% not guilty”, prompting friends to question whether she was okay and whether someone should check on her.
Walsh’s lawyers have argued that she was “severely mentally ill” and experiencing a psychotic episode when Barrett died.
The defence has also rejected suggestions that Walsh deliberately copied Clancy.
“Describing Corie to have copied Lindsay is to take an easy bait,” Kerr said during a previous hearing, according to a transcript.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has raised concerns about his personal safety ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying he is not certain he will be alive when Nigerians go to the polls.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, where he discussed the political environment ahead of the election and called for a peaceful and democratic process.
The former Anambra State governor said he had been subjected to petitions and investigations in different places, adding that he remained uncertain about what could happen to him before the election.
“As I speak to you, I have also petitioned, I’ve been investigated everywhere. I still hear that I’m not even sure whether I’ll still be alive at the end of this,” Obi said.
He said he was relying on God for protection, while expressing uncertainty over the circumstances surrounding him.
“I’m praying to God for His protection because at this stage, I’m not sure what is happening,” he added.
Obi also appealed to political actors, particularly state governors, to create an environment where presidential candidates and other contestants can campaign freely ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, governors have the right to support candidates of their choice, but should not prevent candidates from opposing parties from carrying out their campaigns.
“Some of them will be campaigning for presidency tomorrow. They will be campaigning for other offices tomorrow. Let’s have peace,” he said.
The NDC candidate recalled his tenure as governor of Anambra State, saying he allowed politicians from other parties to campaign in the state, including those supporting candidates who were opposed to him.
Obi’s comments come amid increasing political activity and debate over the conduct and security of the 2027 elections. He has repeatedly called for a peaceful, credible and issue-based electoral process, while urging political actors to avoid actions that could undermine democratic participation.
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