Nigeria’s broadband expansion push gained momentum after 11 states removed charges on Right-of-Way for fibre-optic deployment, the telecoms regulator said Wednesday, urging others to follow suit to speed up digital infrastructure projects.
RoW fees are levies imposed by state governments on operators for laying fibre cables along roads and public land. The charges have been a major barrier to broadband rollout in Africa’s most populous nation, where internet penetration lags global averages.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Aminu Maida, said at a business roundtable in Abuja, that removing these fees is a critical step toward lowering deployment costs and accelerating connectivity.
Other states still impose the charges, leaving a fragmented regulatory environment that industry experts say slows investment.
“One of the most significant barriers to broadband deployment in Nigeria has been the high RoW fees charged by state governments, despite a resolution by the Nigerian Governors Forum fixing the rate at N145 per linear metre,” the chief regulator said in a statement.
