Osun launches free public Wi-Fi, but coverage limited

The Osun state government has rolled out what it calls Imole Wi-Fi, a free public internet service, in select locations across the state.

The initiative, announced by Commissioner for Information and Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, is aimed at giving students, businesses, and communities better access to digital opportunities.

So far, the service is only available in a handful of sites, including the Osun State Library, Alphastart Hub, Osun Mall, Salvation Army Middle School, Osogbo Grammar School, and some government offices.

Governor Ademola Adeleke described the project as “a gateway to opportunity,” while his Special Adviser on Innovation, Azeez Badmus, said the current phase is “just the first step” toward wider access.

Still, the scale remains small compared to the state’s population, limiting its immediate impact.

Osun’s move follows a growing trend among Nigerian states experimenting with public Wi-Fi and digital access. In 2023, Lagos piloted free internet in some parks and markets, while Ekiti tied broadband expansion to its smart city plans.

Internet penetration

As of April 2025, Nigeria’s national internet penetration stood at 48.15%, up from 47.73% in March, but still well below the 70% broadband target set for 2025.

In January 2025, broadband—or high-speed internet—penetration was around 45.61%, with roughly 98.8 million subscribers.

A steady climb in data consumption continues, hitting a record 1,000,930 TB in January 2025—a jump of over 93% year-on-year, largely fueled by rampant smartphone growth and streaming usage.

But affordability remains a major hurdle: Nigeria is among the least affordable countries for mobile broadband relative to income, placing over half its population at risk of staying “internet-poor.”