Nigerian Governors have promised their full support for the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC’s) plan towards for cost-efficient services and accelerated broadband penetration in the country.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Director-General, Mr. Abdulateef Shittu, assured the Forum’s readiness to deepen partnership with the NCC when the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, paid a courtesy visit to the NGF Secretariat in Abuja.
Describing broadband and secure digital infrastructure as “foundational public goods” for national development, Shittu stated that while Nigeria had recorded rapid connectivity growth, broadband penetration remains below the threshold required for inclusive digital transformation.
Specifically, he proposed the NGF’s four-point partnership framework with the NCC, namely establishing State Broadband Coordinating Councils to align policies, harmonising Right of Way (RoW) rules and trenching protocols, strengthening resilience of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), and enhancing information-sharing platforms for capacity building at the state level.
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The Director-General cited the World Bank-supported SABER initiative as a successful example, noting that several states which harmonised RoW fees and streamlined fibre deployment had witnessed rapid growth in fibre kilometres and improved access to high-capacity networks.
Shitu stated: “Expanded fibre coverage raises productivity, supports job creation, broadens access to education and health services, and enlarges the taxable base available to state governments,” the NGF DG added.
The NGF further proposed leveraging the upcoming NCC Business Roundtable to secure concrete commitments from states, and the Director-General recommended follow-up workshops to share best practices from leading states and develop toolkits for others, with measurable targets and timelines for adoption.
He stated: “We will bring political will, coordination capacity, and the convening power of the governors to bear on this agenda.”
Earlier in his remarks, the NCC’s EVC highlighted major challenges that continued to undermine the nation’s broadband penetration particularly the high RoW fees being charged by state governments.
Maida described the N145 per linear meter levy as a major burden on telecom operators, pointing out that waiving or reducing the fees would unlock faster fibre optic deployment and expand access.
He maintained that reducing RoW barriers would not only enable telecom companies to build value chains but also generate more revenue for states through taxation.
The EVC said: “The Right of Way is a critical element in opening up the digital economy, and this lies within the purview of the states”.
Maida commended the NGF’s openness to collaboration, noting that aligning national and subnational policies would be a game changer for Nigeria’s digital economy.
Industry analysts believe that given the ongoing drive by the Federal Government for universal, affordable, and resilient connectivity in the country, the NCC-NGF partnership represents a significant milestone as the governors’ backing of the NCC is expected to ease bottlenecks and attract more investments into the telecoms industry.
Photo Caption
L-R: The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Director-General, Mr. Abdulateef Shittu, holding a souvenir during a courtesy the commission EVC’s recent courtesy visit to the NGF Secretariat in Abuja
