The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has commended Nasarawa State for taking a bold step in waiving Right of Way, RoW, charges for telecommunication operators.
OsunDailyNG reports that Nasarawa State, situated in the North Central region of Nigeria, has eliminated RoW costs for the construction, placement, laying, and maintenance of telecoms network equipment within the state.
In a tweet on his verified X handle, Tijani expressed appreciation for the leadership demonstrated by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
He acknowledged the governor’s decision to join several other states in waiving RoW charges for telecoms operators, describing it as an exciting move that facilitates further investment in broadband and fibre networks.
The minister pointed out the significance of this decision in advancing President Tinubu’s plan for a prosperous digital economy.
“We look forward to working with the Governor and his team to deliver more growth for the people of Nasarawa State,” he stated.
Nasarawa State has joined the ranks of Katsina, Anambra, Kaduna, and Ekiti states in eliminating RoW charges.
The state’s action aligns with a legislative move made last year, after which the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board was instructed not to collect RoW charges.
The Katsina State government eliminated RoW charges last month.
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is reportedly in talks with other states about waiving the fees.
OsunDailyNG recalls that 14 states and their agencies in 2020 increased RoW charges, pegged at N145 per linear metre by the Federal Government.
This drew the outrage of various stakeholders in the information and communications technology sector, who described the action of the governors as an affront and disregard to an earlier resolution reached by the National Economic Council.
However, through the interventions of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (now the Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy) and NCC, some states agreed either to bring RoW charges to N1 per linear metre or outrightly remove them.
Some states have yet to change their stance on this issue.
