Nigeria’s data consumption hits record 4 million terabytes in a quarter
For the first time, Nigerians consumed more than 4 billion gigabytes of data in 90 days, according to the latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). In the first three months of 2026, the country recorded 4.06 million terabytes of data, the highest level since the NCC began tracking the data, and a clear sign of how quickly Nigerians are going online. A terabyte is equal to about 1,000 gigabytes; 406 million terabytes brings the number of data consumed to above 4 billion gigabytes. The new record surpasses the previous high of 3.86 million terabytes recorded in the last quarter of 2025. It also shows steady growth, even though the pace has slowed slightly after the spike typically seen during the festive season at the end of the year. March 2026 played a major role in pushing the numbers higher. It was the busiest month ever, with 1.42 million terabytes of data consumed. This marked a strong recovery from February, when usage dipped. On average, Nigerians used about 45,896 terabytes of data every day in March, overtaking February 2026’s 45,002 TB/day. Behind this surge is a massive expansion of the country’s Internet infrastructure. Moving 4 million terabytes of data requires a network of undersea cables, fibre optic lines across the country, and more than 20,000 telecom towers working at high capacity. Telecom operators have significantly increased investment. MTN Nigeria spent about ₦1 trillion ($726.97 million) on network upgrades last year, while Airtel committed around $500 million and Globacom expanded its infrastructure footprint. The scale of growth has been rapid. In early 2023, Nigeria’s monthly data usage stood at about 517,000 terabytes. By 2026, that figure has more than doubled, highlighting how quickly both demand and capacity have expanded. Another key factor is the shift to faster Internet technologies. As of March 2026, 4G networks account for 53.76% of all connections in Nigeria. Older networks like 2G and 3G simply cannot handle this level of data traffic. Meanwhile, 5G, though still in its early stages at 4.2% penetration, is helping to carry heavy data loads in major cities like Lagos and Abuja, especially for high-definition streaming and cloud-based services. This shift is reflected in rising demand for fixed wireless and fibre services, driven by telecom operators expanding into home Internet. The fixed Internet subscriptions saw a 10.02% jump in March, with MTN Nigeria dominating the market with 80.7% of total subscriptions.
Read MoreNGX nearly doubles profit as transaction fee income climbs 189%
The Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) nearly doubled its profit in the first quarter of 2026, as a surge in trading activity drove transaction fee income up 189.08%. Profit after tax rose by 93.67% to ₦4.09 billion ($2.98 million) in Q1 2026, according to its Q1 2026 unaudited financial statements. Total income climbed 70.51% to ₦7.80 billion ($5.67 million). The growth was driven primarily by transaction fee income, which surged 189.08% to ₦5.80 billion ($4.22 million), making it the largest contributor to the group’s revenue. The spike reflects stronger trading activity on the exchange, buoyed by improved investor sentiment, rising retail participation via digital platforms, and higher market turnover. Investors gained ₦29.83 trillion ($21.69 billion) on the exchange in the first quarter, as market capitalisation rose 30.02% to ₦129.21 trillion ($93.98 billion) by March 31, 2026. While transaction fees powered growth, other income lines showed mixed performance. The NGX Income Engine Explore how the composition of NGX’s Total Income shifted between 2025 and 2026. Hover (or tap on mobile) to see each stream’s exact share of the pie. Total Income ₦7.80B +70.5% YoY Q1 2026 Q1 2025 Transaction Fees ₦5.80 Billion 74.3% of Total Listing Fees ₦0.73 Billion 9.4% of Total Treasury Income ₦0.63 Billion 8.1% of Total Other & Rental Income ₦0.64 Billion 8.2% of Total Hint: Hover or tap bars to see percentage share. Source: NGX Group Q1 Unaudited Financial Statements Technology and data-related income, captured under other income, also fell by 75.41%. Drivers & Drags: NGX Other Income Tap on any line item to see the core businesses driving NGX’s side income—and the macro FX factors dragging it down. Q1 2026 Q1 2025 Total Other Income ₦579.7M -43.0% vs Q1 2025 Source: NGX Group Q1 2025 & 2026 Financials (Note 5) ${item.val}
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Framework laptops worth buying in 2026
Table of contents Framework laptop 12 Framework laptop 13 Framework Laptop 13 Pro Framework Laptop 16 Framework desktop Side-by-side comparison If you have ever bought a laptop and felt frustrated when something breaks, you cannot fix it yourself, or the battery dies just two years in, Framework laptops were built for you. Framework Computer is an American laptop maker founded in January 2020 by Nirav Patel, a former Apple engineer who also led hardware at Oculus and Meta. His idea was simple: laptops should be built to last, and when something goes wrong, you should be able to fix it yourself without sending it to a service centre or buying an entirely new device. That idea turned into a company that now has about 60 employees, ships to 32 countries, and has raised around $44 million in funding. YouTube creator Linus Sebastian of Linus Tech Tips personally put in $225,000 in 2021 because he believed in the concept. Framework laptops have received a 10 out of 10 repairability score from iFixit, the gold standard for measuring how easy a device is to repair. TIME magazine named the first Framework laptop one of the best inventions of 2021. Every Framework laptop ships with a screwdriver in the box. Every important component, such as the battery, RAM, storage, and ports, can be swapped out by you without any special tools or technical skills. Framework also sells individual replacement parts through its own marketplace, and it commits to keeping those parts available for at least five years after a product is discontinued. Recommended Framework laptops The lineup today covers five products: a compact convertible, two 13-inch laptops, a larger performance machine, and a desktop PC. Here is a breakdown of each one. 1. Framework laptop 12 Image source: Brad Colbow on YouTube The Framework Laptop 12 is the most affordable and most portable in the lineup. It is a 12.2-inch 2-in-1 convertible, meaning the screen can fold all the way back so you can use it like a tablet. It launched in 2025 and is aimed at students and everyday users who want something light and practical. Display 12.2-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio 1920 x 1200 resolution 60Hz refresh rate Over 400 nits of brightness Glossy glass with touch and stylus support (MPP 2.0 and USI 2.0 compatible) Processor and performance Intel Core i3-1315U or Core i5-1334U (both are 13th Gen Intel chips) These chips do not have an NPU, so this is not a Copilot+ PC Three power modes: Performance, Balanced, and Efficiency Integrated Intel UHD graphics Memory and storage One SO-DIMM DDR5 slot, user-replaceable, up to 48GB M.2 2230 NVMe storage slot, user-replaceable, up to 2TB Battery 50Wh battery Battery life is the weakest point of this model, a known trade-off with the older Raptor Lake chip Build and design TPU-overmolded plastic chassis built for shock absorption and drop resistance Dimensions: 287 x 213.88 x 18.45mm, which translates to roughly 11.3 x 8.42 x 0.73 inches Available in five colours: Black, Gray, Lavender, Bubblegum, and Sage Chassis uses 30% to 35% post-consumer recycled plastic Ports and connectivity 4 user-selectable Expansion Card slots plus a 3.5mm audio jack Card options include USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, MicroSD, SD, and storage cards Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 Other features 1080p webcam with a hardware privacy switch Stereo speakers Fingerprint reader Windows 11 pre-installed on pre-built models; DIY Edition supports Linux and other operating systems Price DIY Edition: starts at $549 (you bring your own RAM, storage, and operating system) Pre-built: starts at around $799 to $849 The DIY Edition is for people who want to save money and are comfortable setting up their own storage and OS. The pre-built version is ready to use out of the box. The stylus is sold separately. 2. Framework laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series) Image source: Framework on YouTube The Framework Laptop 13 is the standard version of the 13-inch line. It was updated in 2025 with AMD Ryzen AI 300-series chips and remains the most balanced option in the lineup if you want a portable everyday laptop without paying premium pricing. It is in stock and ships immediately. Display 13.5-inch screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which gives you more vertical space for reading and working Two panel options: 2.2K (2256 x 1504, 60Hz, over 400 nits) or 2.8K (2880 x 1920, 120Hz, over 500 nits) Both options are matte with anti-glare coating and cover 100% sRGB No touchscreen support on this model Processor and performance AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.8GHz) AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (8 cores, 16 threads, up to 5.0GHz) AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 cores, 24 threads, up to 5.1GHz) Integrated AMD Radeon graphics: Radeon 840M (4 cores), 860M (8 cores), or 890M (16 cores), depending on which chip you pick Memory and storage Two SO-DIMM DDR5-5600 slots, user-upgradeable, up to 64GB M.2 2280 NVMe storage, user-upgradeable, up to 2TB from the order page; larger drives can be installed yourself Battery 61Wh battery Real-world battery life is around 8 to 11 hours, depending on what you are doing Build and design Aluminum top and bottom covers with magnesium-aluminum internals Dimensions: 296.63 x 228.98 x 15.85mm, same footprint as the Laptop 13 Pro Weight: approximately 1.3kg Ports and connectivity 4 Expansion Card slots plus a 3.5mm audio jack Full compatibility with the Expansion Card library Wi-Fi 7 via AMD RZ717 and Bluetooth 5.4 Other features 1080p webcam at 30fps with a 9.2MP sensor and 87-degree field of view Hardware privacy switches for the webcam and microphones Keyboard with 1.5mm key travel Conventional Windows Precision touchpad Dual-array microphones and stereo speakers (no Dolby Atmos on this model) Fingerprint reader Linux works well on this model; Fedora 40 is widely reported to work out of the box Price DIY Edition: starts at approximately $899 (AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, no RAM, storage, or OS) Pre-built: starts at around $1,099 to $1,199,
Read MoreTalstack partners BII, Ventures Platform to teach ESG to African startups
Talstack, a corporate learning platform, has partnered with British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance institution, and Ventures Platform, a pan-African venture capital firm, to launch an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programme to help African startups build more sustainable businesses. The programme, which went live on Wednesday, offers a series of courses designed for founders and startup teams who want to understand and implement ESG practices as they grow. For many African startups, ESG remains an obligation to figure out when raising capital rather than something built into daily operations. As investors place greater weight on ESG, this programme is an attempt to turn compliance into what founders can understand and implement early. A Bloomberg Intelligence survey found that nearly 85% of investors expect assets allocated to ESG strategies to grow over the next two years, showing how capital is likely to be deployed. Yet, for some startups, ESG remains difficult to implement. “When people hear ESG, what they think about is a complex set of rules and policies or things they have to do to be able to either raise financing or access a certain type of capital,” said Kayode Oyewole, cofounder of Talstack. “But understanding the importance of this (ESG) is critical to the sustainable growth of their company.” ESG refers to a set of standards that guide and measure an organisation’s environmental and social impact, including emission reduction, climate change, waste management, labour practices, human rights, gender diversity, leadership oversight and direction, and board diversity. Sonal Premjee, the investment director for venture capital at BII, told TechCabal that across BII’s venture portfolio and during investment discussions, many African startups lacked practical ESG capabilities suited to early‐stage businesses. “ESG was often treated as a later‐stage compliance exercise, while existing frameworks were too complex or designed for SMEs or larger corporates rather than lean startup teams,” Premjee said. “This left founders and VC managers without clear, usable guidance and core risks around people practices, supply chains and business integrity were being addressed too late—or not at all.” Launched in 2023 by Seni Sulyman and Oyewole, Talstack is a business-to-business (B2B) Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company that delivers content, tools, and other infrastructure to support and upskill talents. It focuses on companies in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana. The ESG learning track is delivered through Talstack’s platform as a series of self-paced, pre-recorded courses, which comprises four courses: respectful workplaces, human resources (HR) and people management, anti-bribery and corruption, and supply chain risk management. Each course is broken into modules that combine instruction with practical application. After completing a module, learners are assessed on their understanding and then guided through frameworks designed to help them implement what they have learned within their organisations. Ventures Platform said it plans to integrate the ESG track into its founder onboarding process and is encouraging adoption across its portfolio, while exploring ways to extend the programme to other funds and ecosystem partners. “We contributed ecosystem insights drawn from our experience investing and supporting companies,” said Damilola Teidi-Ayoola, Principal, Platform and Networks at Ventures Platform. “We were actively involved in the content review and development process, ensuring that there was alignment between both organisations.” Oyewole shared that access to the programme is free for portfolio companies of Ventures Platform and BII. Other companies can access the courses through a paid Talstack subscription, ranging from ₦13,000 ($9.46) to ₦156,000 ($113.50) annually, which also unlocks the 400 other courses on the platform.
Read MoreQuick Fire 🔥 with Michael Emeeka
Michael Emeeka is the Business and Customer Operations Lead and Country Lead for Blockchain.com in Nigeria, where he oversees user operations, market growth, and customer-centric strategies for one of the world’s leading crypto platforms. Previously, Emeeka worked at Luno, an Africa-focused crypto firm, as a Customer Relationship Specialist, supporting high-value and high-volume traders across retail and business accounts. Before he entered crypto, Emeeka had a tenured career in traditional finance, where he worked as a Customer Service Executive at Nigerian lender, Zenith Bank. Today, he focuses on building user experience, customer support, and building practical systems that help more people participate in Nigeria’s digital asset market. Explain your job to a 5-year-old. You know how you can send a message on a phone? I help people send money like that, making sure none of it gets lost. Describe a day in the life of a Country Lead for a large crypto firm like Blockchain.com. I spend most of my day fixing problems, talking with my team, and trying to make things easier for people using our app. I’m also focused on growth, finding ways to get crypto to more people who actually need it. Some days are calm, and everything runs smoothly. Other days, it feels like everything is on fire and we’re just trying to fix things as fast as possible. If your job were a warning label, what would it say? Be ready. Things will break. Why did you leave banking to join crypto? Wasn’t that a risky move as of 2022, when the status of crypto in Nigeria was murky? Honestly, it felt like a bet on the future, but also curiosity. I wanted to really understand what was going on. Crypto had become global; everyone was talking about it, and I always felt like there was light at the end of the tunnel, even with all the uncertainty. In Nigeria, especially, people were already using it regardless. That was the signal for me. Banking was stable, but this felt like where things were heading. I just felt like if I got in early and figured it out properly, it would be worth it long term. From your perspective, what does it take to become an executive in the global crypto industry? It takes time, mostly. You need to be willing to learn all the time, solve problems, and really understand people. You also give up some comfort. You’re constantly dealing with pressure and making decisions that affect a lot of people. What is the biggest misconception people have about the crypto market here in Nigeria and abroad? Most people think crypto is either a quick way to make money or just a scam. There’s a lot of noise like that, to be fair. But at the end of the day, it’s really just another way to send and receive money. Like anything else, there are good parts and people who misuse it. But the real value is that it makes it easier for people and businesses to move money across borders and operate globally without so many barriers. What’s your favourite way to switch off from the noise of being a crypto executive, whether it’s a place you go or an activity you enjoy? I keep it simple: go to the gym, listen to music, watch football and have a bit of banter about it, or play games on my phone like Call of Duty: Mobile.
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