In a bid to eliminate one of the strongest barriers to broadband deployment in Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for the adoption of a 100 per cent waiver on Right of Way (RoW) charges across all states of the federation.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the call during a business roundtable held at the NCC Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja, themed “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity.”
Dr. Maida emphasized that removing RoW charges and improving inter-agency coordination are vital to achieving nationwide broadband penetration, which will, in turn, boost economic growth and digital inclusion.
“We are advocating for a 100 per cent waiver on Right of Way charges across the country to remove the cost barriers that hinder broadband infrastructure rollout,” Maida said.
He also urged state governments to institutionalise coordination between road and public works departments and telecom operators. According to him, shared planning portals, advance work notifications, and “dig-once” protocols would prevent the frequent accidental cuts of fibre cables during road construction activities.
Highlighting recent progress, Maida disclosed that between 2023 and 2025, five additional states — Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Benue, and Zamfara — have joined the initial six states that granted RoW charge waivers, bringing the total number of states with full RoW waivers to 11.
The pioneer six states, which include Anambra, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Osun, and Plateau, had announced their waivers in 2023 after persistent engagements by the NCC.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to working with all tiers of government to create a conducive policy environment that encourages private sector investment and supports the Federal Government’s broadband targets under the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025).
