Broadband Failures Threaten Nigeria’s Digital Elections
Nigeria’s democratic integrity is under threat as broadband failures continue to disrupt the electronic transmission of election results, casting doubt on the nation’s transition to fully digital voting. Despite ambitious government plans to achieve 70% broadband penetration by 2025, infrastructure gaps have left large swathes of the country in “digital darkness,” slowing the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) ability to upload results in real-time. The shortfall is undermining public trust and creating administrative delays during critical elections.
The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025), envisioned as the backbone of the country’s digital economy, is falling short of expectations. Promises of a nationwide fiber-optic rollout have largely remained on paper, with inconsistent 3G and 4G networks leaving even major urban centers vulnerable at peak election periods.
Experts point to several key challenges:
- Rural-Urban Divide: While cities like Lagos and Abuja enjoy 5G connectivity, rural areas home to most polling units still rely on fragile 2G and 3G networks, incapable of transmitting high-resolution result sheets efficiently.
- Under-investment in Backhaul Infrastructure: Over 40% of the country lacks the robust network connections necessary to move data from Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices to central servers.
- Security Risks: Fiber cables and telecom masts are frequently vandalized in volatile regions, creating critical “blind spots” during elections.
The consequences of missed broadband targets extend beyond elections, impacting e-governance, telemedicine, digital learning, and the broader trillion-naira digital economy. Yet, the most visible fallout remains political: delays in transmitting results create information voids where rumors thrive, directly challenging the integrity of the Electoral Act.
Telecommunications stakeholders highlight that the estimated N6 trillion needed to close the infrastructure gap remains tied up in bureaucratic delays. Additionally, the lack of legal protection for telecom assets as “Critical National Infrastructure” leaves deployed broadband vulnerable to interference and destruction.
Analysts urge the Federal Government to move beyond policy documents and offer strong fiscal incentives to expand telecom coverage into underserved regions. Revisiting the stalled “Infraco” (Infrastructure Company) model could accelerate fiber deployment across all 774 Local Government Areas.
With the 70% broadband penetration target now a national security imperative, bridging the digital divide is essential to ensure transparent, real-time elections. The evidence is clear: botched broadband plans threaten both Nigeria’s democratic process and its potential as a digital powerhouse. Until every polling unit can access a reliable signal, the promise of seamless electronic elections will remain out of reach for millions of Nigerians.
- Broadband Failures Threaten Nigeria’s Digital Elections
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