The Ekiti State Government yesterday signed an Executive Order reducing the Right of Way charges for telecommunications infrastructure from N4, 500 to N145 per meter, becoming the first state in Nigeria to comply with the National Executive Council approved Right of Way charges for broadband deployment.
In a series of tweets, the state government said the decision is part of the Governor Kayode Fayemi led administration’s bold and pioneering move to make Ekiti State the knowledge and innovation capital of Nigeria.
The Executive Order signed by the Governor reduces the Right of Way charges related to laying broadband or any other telecommunications infrastructures from N4, 500 to N145 per meter. Thus, Ekiti has become the cheapest state for broadband infrastructure investment as 1km of cable will now cost just N145, 000 as against N4.5m previously.
This Executive Order is part of the ongoing reforms by the Ease of Doing Business project inaugurated by the Governor last year to improve indices that will make Ekiti State an attractive destination for national and international investments in 5 years.
According to the Special Adviser Investment, Trade and Innovations, Mr. Akin Oyebode, this decision will ensure Ekiti achieves full broadband penetration by 2021 to attract new businesses, create jobs, improve access to quality healthcare and digital education while improving internally generated revenue.
It is also aligned with the ongoing development of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, designed to be Nigeria’s first service-based innovation park.