Only 6.6 per cent of Nigerian adults bought anything online in the three months before NITDA's latest survey — despite 86.5 per cent of them holding financial accounts. That gap is the central finding of the Nigeria Tech Outlook Report 2026, unveiled by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026 in Abuja.

The numbers tell a story of broad access but shallow usage. Consider the spread:

• 86.5 per cent of adults have financial accounts
• Only 12 per cent accessed digital credit in the preceding 12 months
• 40.6 per cent personally use smartphones
• 6.6 per cent purchased goods online in the preceding three months
• 17.9 per cent used government e-services in the past year
• 13.1 per cent experienced digital financial fraud

The report is designed as a national baseline: a fixed reference point for measuring Nigeria's digital progress, spotting investment openings and steering government policy across critical sectors.

What does the data actually measure?

Inuwa said the assessment covered financial services, telecommunications, commerce and trade, e-government, e-health, digital access, devices, skills, trust and inclusion. That's wide coverage, and it rests on a real research base, not desk estimates.

The fieldwork involved 2,147 household interviews, 539 health facility interviews, 15 key informant interviews and 10 administrative records from relevant institutions. In other words, the numbers carry statistical weight (each figure drawn from structured sampling rather than anecdote).

Inuwa said the report was built to provide a credible national evidence base — one that lets government, investors, researchers, innovators and development partners make decisions on data rather than assumptions.

Where are the surprises?

Health stands out. 75.9 per cent of adults said they would use telemedicine (remote consultation with doctors via phone or video) if it were available. Yet only 11.3 per cent reported having insurance coverage. Demand exists. The delivery infrastructure and financing don't.

Fraud is the other red flag. The 13.1 per cent fraud exposure figure, per the report, underscores the need for stronger consumer protection, cybersecurity measures and trust in digital financial services. Trust, not technology, may be the binding constraint.

What's in it for investors?

Inuwa identified seven areas offering significant investment opportunities: payments, connectivity, digital devices, e-commerce, logistics, e-government and digital health. The logic is straightforward. Where adoption sits low but account penetration sits high, there's headroom — underserved markets where the customer base already exists on the financial rails.

The findings, he said, would help investors identify underserved areas and emerging opportunities, while enabling policymakers to develop targeted interventions to close gaps in the digital economy.

A companion Tech Outlook Dashboard will carry the findings beyond the printed report, allowing stakeholders to monitor progress, pull relevant information and submit feedback.

What stands between Nigeria and returns?

The NITDA chief was blunt about the obstacles. Electricity supply, digital skills, affordability, interoperability (the ability of different systems to work together) and consumer protection must all be addressed before investments in the sector pay off.

His sharpest point: expanding digital infrastructure alone won't guarantee meaningful economic participation. Nigerians need devices they can afford, reliable connectivity and the skills to use digital services productively. Build the network, and the usage gap can still swallow the benefit.

Does this become an annual exercise?

Yes, by design. The report is expected to establish an annual process for measuring Nigeria's digital progress, reviewing targets and adjusting policies as conditions change. One baseline doesn't make a trend; a yearly series does.

Inuwa urged stakeholders to translate the findings into practical solutions that strengthen institutions, stimulate investment and expand digital inclusion across the country.

The core lesson from Abuja is one policymakers everywhere should note: access is not participation. Low uptake of online shopping, digital credit and e-government services marks the distance between the two — and, for businesses, marks exactly where the next wave of opportunity sits.