The Federal Government has announced that Nigerian students will begin accessing 100 megabytes (100MB) of free data daily from October 1, 2026, under a new initiative aimed at expanding access to digital education.
The 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.
The programme, being implemented through collaboration between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Ministry of Education and participating telecommunications operators, will initially target students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
Under the initiative, the 100MB daily allowance will provide zero-rated access to approved educational websites, digital learning platforms, online libraries and other authorised educational resources.
The government said the initiative is designed to address the cost of internet data, which remains a major barrier to digital learning, particularly for students from low-income households.
Alausa said the programme would initially cover selected categories of learners before being expanded to other groups.
The NCC explained that educational platforms would be jointly approved by the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education before being included in the programme.
The initiative is expected to involve major telecommunications operators, including MTN, Airtel and Globacom, which have committed to supporting the provision of free access to approved educational content.
However, the free access does not mean students will receive unrestricted 100MB data for general internet browsing. The zero-rated allowance is specifically intended for approved educational platforms and content under the scheme.
The Federal Government said the initiative is part of broader efforts to make digital education more accessible and ensure that the cost of internet connectivity does not prevent Nigerian learners from accessing quality educational resources.
