The Federal Government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100MB of free data daily, beginning October 1, 2026, to support access to educational websites and digital learning platforms.

The initiative is aimed at bridging the digital divide and ensuring that learners at all levels can access online academic resources without the burden of data costs.

According to government sources, the free data allocation will be restricted to educational and research websites to prevent misuse and ensure the intervention serves its intended purpose.

Officials said the daily 100MB will enable students to read e-books, download lecture materials, attend virtual classes, and conduct research without worrying about data depletion.

The programme is expected to benefit primary, secondary and tertiary institution students across the country, particularly those in underserved communities with limited internet access.

Stakeholders in the education sector have described the move as timely, noting that data costs have been a major barrier to e-learning adoption in Nigeria since the COVID-19 pandemic pushed more learning online.

The government said it is working with major telecommunications providers to implement the scheme and ensure seamless delivery to students nationwide once it kicks off.

To qualify, students are expected to register with their institutional email addresses or through a portal that will be launched by the Federal Ministry of Education ahead of the October 1 take-off date.

Some people from the Education say the intervention aligns with the administration’s push for digital literacy and will help prepare Nigerian students for a technology-driven future.

The Ministry of Education has urged students and school authorities to take advantage of the opportunity, adding that monitoring mechanisms will be put in place to ensure the data is used strictly for learning purposes.

While some are applauding the government for their incentives to curb hardship on Nigerian youths, some criticise the move heavily by saying 100mb cannot solve a quarter of their educational problems.