President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the official launch of Lebara Nigeria, describing the new market entry as a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy and its ambition to remain a leading technology and investment destination in Africa. The message was conveyed in a statement issued Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the statement, the President positioned telecommunications as one of Nigeria’s most important growth engines, citing a 5.78% year-on-year growth in Q3 2025 and saying the sector contributes over 14% to GDP. However, separate industry reporting around Nigeria’s Q3 2025 national accounts has put telecoms’ share of total GDP closer to about 9.1%, highlighting that “telecom/ICT contribution” figures can vary depending on whether the reference point is the telecom sub-sector alone or a broader digital/ICT measurement.
Tinubu congratulated Lebara Nigeria’s leadership and partners singling out Chief Executive Teniola Stuffman for committing to expanded access, job creation and stronger digital infrastructure. He argued that investments of this kind are critical for deepening financial inclusion, enabling innovation and accelerating sustainable growth, while also signalling investor confidence in the administration’s economic reforms.
The President also acknowledged the presence of the British High Commission at the launch, represented by Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, framing the moment as evidence of enduring Nigeria–UK economic ties and Nigeria’s openness to “responsible” foreign investment and strategic partnerships.
Lebara’s entry comes as Nigeria’s telecom market remains intensely competitive, with policymakers increasingly focused on broadband expansion, service quality, and investment into resilient infrastructure. Analysts will be watching how quickly Lebara scales distribution, pricing, and partnerships and whether its arrival strengthens competition in ways that improve consumer value without worsening industry sustainability pressures.
