Governors in Nigeria have agreed to work with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Nigerian Communications Commission and other stakeholders in the telecom industry to resolve the Right of Way challenges.
The resolution was taken after a meeting between the governors, under the auspices of the Governors’ Forum, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency and Funke Opeke, Chairperson of the Presidential Committee on National Broadband Plan (2020-2025).
According to a statement by Dr ‘Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (IT) to Pantami, the governors agreed to resolved to address the lingering issue of Right of Way (RoW) charges, after a presentation by Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim, which stressed the need to deepen broadband penetration in the country and promote a Digital Economy for a Digital Nigeria.
The statement noted that Dr. Pantami discussed the many benefits that an increase in broadband access can have on the economy of the various States. He noted that one of the key benefits is the rapid growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of any country that increases its broadband penetration. He then urged the State Governors to adopt the 2013 resolutions reached by the National Economic Council (NEC) which agreed on a maximum RoW charge of N145.00 per linear meter of fibre.
In response, the Governors acknowledged the benefits of broadband penetration and the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, His Excellency, Dr. Fayemi, stated that the Minister should consider the matter resolved. “There will no longer be any need to appeal to the Governors on the issue of RoW,” the statement quoted him.
In addition to the discussion on the RoW, the Minister also discussed the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) which was unveiled by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on the 28th of November 2019. Dr. Pantami urged the State Governors to key into the Policy and Strategy. He also informed them of the plan of the Federal Government to help the States with a Digital Economy Strategy, through Policy, Digital Skills and other areas of intervention.
