NCC Urges Governors to Waive Right of Way Fees as It Partners with NGF on Digital Economy Growth

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on state governors to waive or significantly reduce the current ₦145 per linear meter Right of Way (RoW) fee, describing it as a major barrier to broadband expansion and the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja. He stressed that eliminating or reducing the RoW charges would fast-track fibre optic deployment and enable deeper broadband penetration 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 said, emphasizing that improved coordination between federal and state infrastructure efforts would be a “game changer” for Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Responding, NGF Director-General, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to collaborating with the NCC. He described secure broadband infrastructure as “foundational public goods,” and identified four key areas for partnership:

1. Establishing State Broadband Coordinating Councils,
2. Harmonizing policies to standardize RoW administration,
3. Protecting Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), and
4. Strengthening information-sharing and capacity-building mechanisms.

Shittu cited the World Bank’s State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) initiative, noting that states which harmonized RoW fees and embraced coordinated trenching had experienced faster fibre rollouts, increased job opportunities, and greater access to healthcare and education.

Both leaders emphasized that addressing RoW bottlenecks would not only benefit citizens but also boost productivity, expand states’ tax bases, and increase internally generated revenue (IGR).

To formalize commitments, the NGF plans to use the upcoming NCC Business Roundtable to secure pledges from governors. Additional workshops will be held to convert successful policy examples into actionable toolkits for state-level implementation.

“As Nigeria strives for universal, affordable, and resilient connectivity, this partnership between the NCC and NGF signals a collaborative path forward,” Shittu said.

Dr. Maida assured that the NCC would provide strong regulatory and technical guidance to drive broadband rollout, while the NGF pledged the political will and coordination needed to ensure measurable results at the state level.