Nigeria, Africa's fourth-largest economy and most populous country, is struggling to provide reliable internet access at its airports, a crucial amenity in today's hyperconnected world. Despite promises of free WiFi, only two of the country's 32 domestic and international airports offer any form of free internet, and even then, the connections are often unreliable or non-functional.

The failure of airport WiFi in Nigeria is not due to a lack of intention, but rather a complex mix of technical, bureaucratic, and economic challenges. Many airport routers are outdated or too few to handle the volume of travelers who pass through the airports on any given day. Without proper network planning or ongoing maintenance, connections become bottlenecked or break down entirely. Even where signals are strong, backend systems often fail, and authentication portals don't load, or the routers themselves aren't connected to the internet.

The backbone of Nigeria's internet – terrestrial fibre and microwave links – can be unreliable, especially in non-urban areas. Even in urban areas like Lagos and Abuja, home to Nigeria's major international airports, inequitable distribution of telecom equipment means that the internet is always fluctuating and unreliable. Combine that with frequent power cuts and rampant fibre cable vandalism, and it's no surprise that routers often go offline or never reboot properly.

Add to that a chronic lack of accountability. Unlike private ventures with customer-facing service models, public WiFi systems at airports often have no assigned contractor responsible for uptime or quality. When something breaks, it may take weeks – or never – to fix.

Free WiFi doesn't come cheap. Laying fibre, installing access points, securing bandwidth, and maintaining uptime costs real money. But for internet service providers (ISPs), the return on that investment is murky. Free WiFi isn't a direct revenue driver unless it's bundled with advertising, user analytics, or other monetized services. Investors are reluctant to invest in airport WiFi due to the lack of clear revenue streams.

The most widely considered commercial model for public Wi-Fi is advertising. However, major ad platforms like Google typically won't enter revenue-sharing agreements with service providers unless the network attracts significant traffic – often tens of thousands of users. Building a consistent internet user base out of travelers can take months or even years, during which the service provider must cover the full cost of bandwidth and network maintenance without generating revenue.

Poor quality WiFi can damage a brand's image if passengers associate it with failure. Additionally, Nigeria's regulatory landscape is notoriously complex. ISPs may need approval from multiple government agencies, each with its own processes and delays. This red tape deters all but the most persistent operators.

Then, there's the challenge of data monetization. Globally, free WiFi models often rely on user analytics and targeted advertising. But in Nigeria, data privacy regulations are still evolving, and the lack of clear enforcement makes ISPs hesitant to invest heavily in user-tracking systems that might later be deemed non-compliant.

The confusion persists over which government agency is truly responsible for providing internet services at Nigerian airports. While the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) owns and operates the majority of airports in the country, its core mandate is focused on airport operations rather than digital infrastructure. According to a FAAN official, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is technically responsible for managing internet infrastructure at airports. In reality, both agencies often rely on third-party Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to install and maintain WiFi networks.

As part of the 2025 national budget, the Nigerian government has proposed allocating ₦1.5 billion to improve internet connectivity at five international airports across the country. However, the effectiveness of this investment remains to be seen, given the lack of clear accountability and enforceable service-level agreements (SLAs) with ISPs.

The absence of functional WiFi does more than just inconvenience passengers – it hampers Nigeria's image and economic potential. Reliable airport WiFi can enhance tourism by improving first impressions for international visitors, promote digital inclusion by offering internet access to Nigerians who may not have active data plans, and improve communication during delays or emergencies.

To move forward, Nigeria must rethink its approach. FAAN must acknowledge that internet access is no longer a luxury – it's a necessity. That means either building internal digital capacity or partnering with experienced ISPs under enforceable SLAs. The government must offer better incentives to attract private sector investment, such as advertising rights, data reselling frameworks, tax holidays on telecom equipment, or even bundling duty-free retail exposure with connectivity projects.

Long-term public-private partnerships (PPPs) with shared risk and reward can help bridge the infrastructure and service quality gap. Clarity is essential, and transparent communication about available services, their quality, and how to access them can go a long way in improving the user experience. Until these issues are addressed, free WiFi at Nigerian airports will remain more myth than reality – seen on screen but never truly connected.