Students across public secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria have expressed concern over the delay in receiving the federal government’s promised 100MB daily data allowance for educational purposes.
The programme was scheduled to commence on October 1, 2026, under the Zero-Rated Data Access to Approved Educational Platforms and Content Initiative.
Despite the announced launch, some students and parents said they had neither received the data nor received information about when the benefit would become available.
The Nigerian Communications Commission said the programme was being implemented alongside the Federal Ministry of Education and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria.
The commission said the initiative was designed to improve access to digital learning by providing zero-rated connectivity to approved educational platforms.
A final-year Microbiology student at the University of Abuja, Victor Aondo, said he had repeatedly checked his mobile phone since the morning of the launch but had not received the promised allocation.
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He added that some of his colleagues had also checked their lines without finding the data.
Similarly, Mrs Theresa Moji, a parent of an SS3 student at St Winifred Girls Secondary School, Ihugh, said she had attempted to access the initiative for her daughter without success.
The NCC has, however, clarified that the 100MB allocation is not a general-purpose internet bundle.
According to the commission, students can only benefit from zero-rated access when using approved and whitelisted educational platforms.
These include Learning Management Systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms and technical and vocational training services.
The scheme does not automatically provide free access to WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube or other general internet services.
The NCC said the Federal Ministry of Education and the commission would jointly approve platforms that qualify under the initiative.
The commission explained that the restriction was intended to ensure the programme serves its primary purpose of supporting education and digital learning.
Students awaiting the benefit are therefore expected to receive access as the rollout progresses across eligible institutions and approved platforms.
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