By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal Government has moved to remove data charges on selected educational platforms, allowing Nigerian students and teachers to access approved digital learning resources without paying for internet data.
The initiative is being driven by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) under its proposed Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content framework.
The NCC on Thursday, September 10, 2026, announced that it was advancing the initiative as part of efforts to make digital learning more accessible and promote digital inclusion.
The NCC said the initiative is aimed at improving digital access to education and reducing the financial burden of internet costs on learners.
Under the proposed arrangement, selected educational websites and digital learning platforms would be accessible without users’ data bundles being deducted.
The commission had earlier opened a public consultation on the framework, seeking contributions from students, educational institutions, telecom operators, technology companies and other stakeholders before its implementation.
However, the policy does not mean that students will have unrestricted free internet access. The zero-rating is expected to apply to approved educational platforms and content under the framework.
The move is expected to benefit students who struggle to afford regular data subscriptions, particularly those who depend on online resources for lectures, research, assignments and other academic activities.
