Access to mobile phones in Nigeria ; Anambra tops list

Anambra State topped the scale in number of people with access to mobile phones in Nigeria beating Lagos, the nation’s bustling commercial capital that emerged sixth in a year 2011 nationwide ICT ownership survey that revealed that radio remains the favourite device in the country.

 The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey also reveals that out of the 167 million Nigerians, 63.9 per cent of the population now have access to mobile phones (see table), underscoring its relatively faster growth compared to radio.
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The survey carried out by National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) across all states of Nigeria refocuses attention on the nation’s mobile phone penetration that has witnessed significant growth and seen more than half of the population claiming access to the telecoms service.

According to the report, radio remains the most widely used devices are radios and mobile phones, while internet usage and PC access remained considerably low, the latter’s growth undermined largely by the challenge of electricity.

Across the country, nearly half of people with access to mobile phones own the device, more than a third own radios while about a quarter own TVs as well as PCs and Internet access devices.

Nigeria National Mobile Phone Penetration Ranking: The survey carried out by National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) across all states of Nigeria refocuses attention on the nation's mobile phone penetration that has witnessed significant growth and seen more than half of the population claiming access to the telecoms service.

Among the states in Nigeria, Anambra has the highest percentage of people with access to mobile phones at 95.1 per cent and nearly 60 per cent of them own the devices, an indicator that, “at least 9 in every 10 persons who reside in the state are likely to have access to a mobile phone”, says the report.

Osun State follows at number two recording 91.9 per cent trailed by Kogi with 87.6 per and Ogun with 87.1 per cent to place third and fourth respectively.

Niger State took the fifth position with 86.2 percent total access to mobile phone.
Despite the urban setting of Lagos, it ranks sixth place with distribution access of 85.6 per cent, the report reveals about the nation’s commercial capital and home to consumers of various telecoms services.

Also on the table, Ebonyi, Imo and Oyo, have 82.0 per cent, 81.9 per cent and 81.5 per cent total access to mobile phones respectively.

On the other hand, Edo, Kwara, Ekiti, Delta, Rivers, Jigawa, Ondo, Nasarawa, Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) Abuja, Enugu, and Abia State range between 80 and 70 per cent.

The states with lowest access to mobile phones are Taraba and Sokoto States with 33.1 per cent followed by Zamfara with 36.1 per cent; Kano with 36.2 per cent; Katsina with 39.7 per cent; Bauchi with 42.8 per cent and Adamawa with 46.5 per cent.

However, those who actually claimed ownership in Taraba state are more than those who do in Sokoto State.

                                            CULLED:Technologytimes