There are several factors ranging from illiteracy to Power Supply,

The government can really speed up and grow internet usage in Nigeria by introducing basic computing and internet applications courses in primary and secondary schools as part of the curriculum. My 7- year daughter uses the computer and internet for basic assignments and entertainment. I believe this is the key. The parents will by default learn how to use the internet as a way to assist their kids in completing their assignments. Govt can provide subsidy The provision of constant power supply is also very important. The government is really myopic in the way they have been dealing with power supply. They have been promising uninterrupted power for the past 10+ years and nothing has improved. How about investing in solar power, especially in rural Nigeria? There should be a National Policy and Laws in place to accelerate the growth of e- based business and banking, e-based courses in the tertiary institutions and building of necessary infrastructures to support the IT systems in the country.

Hmm, this is one topic that will really stretch beyond the boundaries because the factor are just way beyond what we could even write in a book.

I'll be watching this one closely

Phateamah:

There are several factors ranging from illiteracy to Power Supply,

I think we're getting to that stage where it will be available for almost everbody. as for the illiteracy bit, Im sure anyone who can read (or comprehend ) english could be taught to use the internet.

We can do this if we only vote the useless party that have fail to live to their empty promises, costant power supply should be a basic thing we should not allow any leader to make any promises about power as this a primary responsibility of any government, i wonder if Ghana could have steady power supply how can Nigeria the Giant of Africa can not have it, Its time we start to call on international aids for our rural area so that they can also have solar power and internet cafes

I have seen this happen in Kenya

http://www.apc.org/en/news/cybercafe-container-rural-kenyas-mobile-internet-s

power! power!! power!!!

unless we resolve power issue, nigeria go nowhere.

Poor telecom infrastructure, for instance , no functioning national carrier

'Power and Connection fee' are the key factors militating against internet penetration in Nigeria. The internet is fun and comes with a load of upside which the average teen/youth lusts for. Take naija institutions for example where every student is dying to be be computer literate in order to reap the benefits of; Google/Wiki = Assignment made easy, Facebook = Chyking / relationship made easier, Ymessasenger/instant messaging = Aproko made easy etc ,  . . . .  from this  preliminary stage, most newbies are drawn into the real cyber web. Its obvious that with 3g and mobile-phone internet (blackberries and co.) the penetration rate have increased rapidly, but browsing on a mobile device give less than 10% the actual experience of going online on a desk/laptop

Power, subscription fee and the low quality hardwares

-Cost of computer: If the cost could come really down such that anyone could afford it, then there'll be a composite growth in internet usage.

-Cost of internet connection: Not many people can afford N 5,000 monthly.

PeeDaVinci:

Poor telecom infrastructure, for instance , no functioning national carrier

I disagree on this one. Nigerian telecom infrastructure isn't poor at all. the problem is that services are a bit on the expensive side. There are so many (eg, in Laos, i can't count) internet service providers in the country including the major four telco service providers. Internet is in the air waiting for you plug your CPE and subscribe. But be ready to cough out about $70 monthly

Let's start with the basic

1. Poverty rate --- not everyone can afford to buy a computer and if they do here is the second

2. Power --- without power/electricity you really can't do much and even if they have 1 & 2, here's the third

3. Poor IT infrastructure --- Nigeria still has poor IT infrastructure to make internet availability basic. I believe internet industry isn't competitive enough; that's a limiting factor there.

4. Literacy --- believe it not everyone is comfortable with using the computers let alone the internet but that can change very easily when introduced as part of education.

5. Reason --- the average Nigerian hasn't seen any reason why they should use the internet other than social networking, chatting etc, Nigeria needs to improve platforms for people to have reasons to view the web like commerce, banking, education (at all levels) etc.

Let's start with the basic

1. Poverty rate --- not everyone can afford to buy a computer and if they do here is the second

2. Power --- without power/electricity you really can't do much and even if they have 1 & 2, here's the third

3. Poor IT infrastructure --- Nigeria still has poor IT infrastructure to make internet availability basic. I believe internet industry isn't competitive enough; that's a limiting factor there.

4. Literacy --- believe it not everyone is comfortable with using the computers let alone the internet but that can change very easily when introduced as part of education.

5. Reason --- the average Nigerian hasn't seen any reason why they should use the internet other than social networking, chatting etc, Nigeria needs to improve platforms for people to have reasons to view the web like commerce, banking, education (at all levels) etc.
u have said it all

you need more internet in nigeria?

the one we currently have, what's it mainly being used for.

Adexvyb:

Let's start with the basic

1. Poverty rate --- not everyone can afford to buy a computer and if they do here is the second

2. Power --- without power/electricity you really can't do much and even if they have 1 & 2, here's the third

3. Poor IT infrastructure --- Nigeria still has poor IT infrastructure to make internet availability basic. I believe internet industry isn't competitive enough; that's a limiting factor there.

4. Literacy --- believe it not everyone is comfortable with using the computers let alone the internet but that can change very easily when introduced as part of education.

5. Reason --- the average Nigerian hasn't seen any reason why they should use the internet other than social networking, chatting etc, Nigeria needs to improve platforms for people to have reasons to view the web like commerce, banking, education (at all levels) etc.
u have said it all

I totally agree with you

What Are The Factors Limiting The Growth Of Internet In Nigeria?

@OP elaborate a little bit more, do you mean internet availability, internet access, or the internet network itself (IP Network).

PDP government would not give you the following ,so as to keep Nigerians uninformed and in darkness

Power

Internet

As small as Saharareporters,it doing more damage then EFCC and Nigerians Army combine, Information is Power, and they don't want you to have that power from your bedroom.

Only 26% of Nigerians have access to the internet At a time when the world has been totally shrunk into a global village, it's nerve crippling to note that internet penetration is still this low. Just about a quarter of Nigerians have access to the internet, that's real bad.

POWER POWER POWER!!! You cannot access the internet without POWER, unless you are some kinda ET. Who are we kidding?

notebook laptop + your-freedom =

I have always thought and wrote about Internet usage growth and commercialization in Nigeria at my Nigerian startups blog http://naijastartups..com

I think the limiting factor is cost of bandwidth and lack of a viable e-commerce system. If you look at places like India, bandwidht is really cheap. for a cheap hotel room, you get very fast Internet connection, you will pay 6 times the cost of the hotel room in a hotel in Abuja and you'll still get an Internet connection that is 10 times slower than what you get in India.

The Telecoms should really do something about this.

Unlike other serious Governments ours pays lip service to internet growth in the country
Internet growth in Nigeria today rests solely with the private sector

Funding, building of infrastructure,e-commerce and shamefully even policy formulation
have all been left to the private sector.

Until we vote in people that have a clue of what 21st century governance looks like
we would continue to suffer poor internet services in Nigeria

Eh factor ni factor koh, we have unlimited growth una forget say our satellite lost for orbit. We have correct magus weh sabi internet well well, bros we no get factor here, next topic please.

Power. But idk where you get the notion that internet use in naija is stagnant when every village head master has facebook n watches league soccer on their phone

How can the Internet grow when 70% of those who uses it are Yahoo Yahoo Boys.

Ikengawo:

Power. But idk where you get the notion that internet use in naija is stagnant when every village head master has facebook n watches league soccer on their phone

No offense but hear yourself out in the bolded sentence and then relate it to the main topic. The question asked was " What Are The Factors Limiting The Growth Of Internet In Nigeria?". No one is doubting if they use it in the village but the growth rate, i.e. its uses, who, where and how it's used all contribute to its growth. If you look at the growth pattern, it's not encouraging because of several factors period.

Thanks evri1, i appreciate ur contributions