In a significant move towards advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has praised state governors for their willingness to collaborate with the commission in managing the digital economy.
According to a statement by the Director of Media and Strategic Communications at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Yunusa Abdullahi, Maida said the forum’s openness to dialogue reflects a shared commitment to harnessing digital solutions for subnational development.
He stressed the importance of aligning national and state-level digital infrastructure, describing such coordination as a “game changer” for Nigeria’s digital economy.
A key focus of Maida’s remarks was the Right of Way (RoW) fees, currently pegged at N145 per linear meter, which he said poses a significant burden on telecom operators. He urged state governments to reduce or waive the fees to accelerate fibre optic deployment across the country.
“The Right of Way is a critical element in opening up the digital economy, and this lies within the purview of the states,” Maida emphasized.
Industry stakeholders say addressing the RoW issue will unlock faster broadband penetration and drive Nigeria’s digital inclusion agenda.
