11 states have agreed to waive Right of Way (RoW) charges for telecom operators. This development was confirmed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during a presentation of the Digital Economy report to President Bola Tinubu on Monday.
The waiver is part of an ongoing federal government initiative aimed at reducing the cost of deploying telecom infrastructure, such as fibre optic cables, which are critical for reliable internet services. RoW charges are fees paid by telecom operators to state governments for permission to dig roads and lay these cables. However, inconsistencies in these charges across states have hindered investment in broadband infrastructure.
Previously, seven states, Zamfara, Katsina, Anambra, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Bauchi, and Adamawa, had waived these fees. With the addition of four more states, the total now stands at 11. Minister Tijani expressed optimism that all states would align with this initiative before the end of President Tinubu’s second year in office.
Despite federal efforts to standardize RoW fees at N145 per linear meter, disparities persist. For example, some states charge significantly higher rates, Ebonyi’s fees are reportedly up to 69 times more than Ekiti’s. This inconsistency has slowed network rollout and increased costs for telecom operators. According to the GSMA, a global body for mobile operators, reducing RoW charges nationwide could cut network deployment costs by approximately 15%.
The federal government is also making strides in other areas of digital infrastructure. In 2024, it approved a $2 billion investment to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cables across Nigeria. This project will create Africa’s third-largest fibre network after South Africa and Egypt. With additional support from the Ministry of Finance and a $500 million World Bank commitment, significant progress has already been made.
The Digital Economy report presented to President Tinubu included several recommendations to further drive innovation and connectivity in Nigeria. Among them:
Encouraging all government agencies to migrate to the OneGov.ng portal.
Promoting youth empowerment through digital skills development.
Accelerating the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 internet protocols.
Establishing Digital Health Innovation Hubs.
Developing preventive maintenance applications for Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Minister Tijani noted that Nigeria is on track to become one of the first African nations to fully transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment and innovation during his response to the report. He directed Minister Tijani to coordinate with relevant stakeholders and streamline the implementation of the recommendations.
“At the core of our administration is youth empowerment,” Tinubu stated. “We cannot relent on that, and we need everyone’s collaboration.”
This renewed focus on digital transformation underscores Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a leader in Africa’s digital economy while addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges.
The waiver of RoW charges is expected to lower costs for telecom operators and accelerate broadband expansion across the country. This could lead to faster internet speeds and more reliable connectivity for millions of Nigerians, a critical step toward achieving nationwide digital inclusion.
