The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has disclosed that 11 states have waived the Right of Way (RoW) charges to accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment across Nigeria.
He made this known on Monday after presenting a digital economy report to President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. The initiative aligns with the federal government’s efforts to eliminate obstacles to telecoms infrastructure development and enhance internet accessibility nationwide.
RoW charges, imposed by state governments for laying fibre optic cables, have long hindered investment in Nigeria’s telecom sector. Despite federal guidelines setting the fee at N145 per linear meter, some states imposed significantly higher rates, discouraging telecom operators.
Tijani expressed optimism that more states would adopt the policy before the end of the Tinubu administration’s second year. Previously, only seven states, including Zamfara, Katsina, and Anambra, had waived the charges.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s broader digital economy agenda, revealing that a $2 billion investment has been approved for the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables.
The initiative, backed by a $500 million World Bank commitment, will establish Nigeria’s third-largest fibre network in Africa, following South Africa and Egypt. Tijani noted that this investment would significantly enhance internet penetration and economic development.
Furthermore, the report presented to the President recommended key policy measures, including an Executive Order mandating all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to migrate to the OneGov.ng portal.
Other proposals included transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6, establishing Digital Health Innovation Hubs, and adopting the Quintuple-Helix Model to drive digital innovation and job creation.
Tijani assured that Nigeria is on track to becoming one of Africa’s first nations to fully transition to IPv6. President Tinubu, in response, instructed the Minister to coordinate with relevant agencies to implement the recommendations effectively.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment through digital innovation and skills development. The President also acknowledged concerns over overlapping government functions and pledged to streamline operations for improved efficiency in governance.