FG Unveils Free 100MB Daily Data For Students Nationwide from October 1!

In order to give Nigerian students access to authorized educational websites and digital learning platforms, the federal government has announced plans to give them 100 megabytes of free data every day starting on October 1, 2026.

Students in public senior secondary schools and postsecondary institutions will initially benefit from the initiative, which is being carried out by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in collaboration with telecommunications companies and the Federal Ministry of Education.

The Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria was launched on Thursday in Abuja, where Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, announced the start date.

“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1st, 2026,” Alausa said, while acknowledging the support of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria.

“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.”

He pointed out that one of the biggest barriers to digital learning, especially for students from low-income families, is the cost of internet data.

He claims that students who might otherwise be shut out of digital education could use computers, tablets, and smartphones as classrooms and libraries if they had free access to authorized educational platforms.

The minister also revealed that the government was developing policies to control children under the age of sixteen’s access to the internet; more information is anticipated to be released.

He stressed that digital content accessible to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”

According to Alausa, the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, the Learner Identification Number, and the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System are all ways that the government is speeding up the digitalization of the education sector.

He revealed that the Annual School Census was being digitized to collect information on enrollment, teachers, classrooms, labs, libraries, connectivity, and school safety, and that over 240,000 schools had been geolocated and geo-mapped nationwide.

Rimini Makama, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, stated that the expense of internet access prevented millions of students from using digital learning platforms.

According to her, the program was created to guaranty that no student would be excluded from educational materials due to their location or household income.

“The Zero-Rated Access Initiative exists to erase that line. Its principle is simple: no learner should be shut out of educational content because of where they live or what their family earns,” Makama said.

Before creating the framework, she said, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education, the NCC, participating mobile network operators under ALTON, and other stakeholders carried out research, benchmarking, testing, and consultations.

Ayuba Shuaibu, the NCC Director of Policy, Competition, and Economic Analysis, stated that the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education would work together to decide which educational platforms would be included on the initiative’s whitelist.

According to him, learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, and platforms for technical and vocational training would all qualify.

“The framework also adopts the operator’s consult model for the initial rollout of the initiative. Under this model, a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100MB will be provided by the participating MNOs for usage on approved websites and platforms,” Shuaibu said.

The program is a significant step toward making digital education more accessible and affordable, especially for students in underprivileged communities, according to Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, who was represented by Adetunji Adeyemo, Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat.

He promised that the ministry would continue to support programs that increase access to knowledge, affordable connectivity, and digital inclusion.

I sincerely hope that this initiative reaches all students across the nation, empowering them with the data they need to succeed. It is my wish that every student benefits from this program and gains greater access to learning resources, communication, and opportunities. Together, we can make a difference and support the academic growth of our youth.