Nigeria is witnessing a rapid surge in the uptake of 5G-enabled smartphones, even as the network infrastructure required to support high-speed connectivity remains insufficient, according to a new industry report.

Consumers in major cities including Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt are increasingly purchasing 5G-capable devices, driven by wider availability and competitive pricing. Global forecasts also indicate sustained momentum—5G device sales are projected to grow by 13.2 percent in 2025, following a 16 percent increase recorded in 2024, according to Business Day.

Regionally, smartphone shipments in the Middle East and Africa rose by three percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, supported by promotional offers and an improving macroeconomic environment.

In Nigeria, affordable 5G-ready devices from manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Samsung now make up nearly half of new smartphone purchases, signaling strong consumer interest in next-generation connectivity.

A recent joint study by the NCC and Ookla shows that 5G availability is lagging far behind device adoption in key Nigerian cities. In Lagos, where 41,057 5G-enabled devices were recorded, 70.9 percent were unable to connect to a 5G network. Abuja faces a similar challenge, with a 65.6 percent coverage gap affecting 16,143 devices.

The shortfall poses a major setback for Nigeria’s digital economy aspirations. Despite being Africa’s largest city and a major technology and innovation hub, Lagos continues to struggle with inadequate 5G access—limiting growth in data-dependent sectors such as real-time analytics, remote work, and digital commerce.

In Abuja, the persistent coverage gap raises concerns about Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a continental leader in the digital economy.

“Device adoption reflects confidence in 5G’s potential, but without robust network expansion, we’re creating a bottleneck,” warned Jide Awe, a telecom analyst.

Awe warned that Nigeria could fall behind regional peers such as South Africa, where 5G networks are more widely deployed despite facing comparable economic pressures.

Although prices for 5G smartphones have fallen, they remain unaffordable for many consumers. MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, noted that while 5G-enabled devices now range from about ₦120,000 ($75) to over ₦2 million ($1,250), this is still beyond the reach of millions. With an estimated 88.4 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty, the cost barrier continues to limit widespread adoption of 5G technology.

“The biggest barrier is the cost of handsets,” Toriola said, adding that MTN is working with the Ministry of Communications to support local smartphone assembly and provide device financing through its MoMo platform.

Meanwhile, network operators are grappling with persistent operational disruptions. NCC data shows an average of 1,100 fibre cuts each day, alongside 545 access denials and 99 incidents of generator and battery theft, challenges that continue to undermine service reliability and hinder 5G rollout efforts.