Eleven Nigerian states have agreed to remove Right of Way (RoW) charges, a move expected to enhance broadband infrastructure development and improve digital connectivity across the country. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, made this announcement following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, where participants of the Senior Executive Course 46 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, presented their findings on Nigeria’s digital economy.
RoW fees are charges imposed on telecom companies for laying fibre optic cables, which are essential for internet expansion. While the federal government had set a benchmark fee of ₦145 per metre, several states implemented higher rates, discouraging investment in broadband infrastructure. Tijani noted that more states are expected to follow, adding to the seven states—Zamfara, Katsina, Anambra, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Bauchi, and Adamawa—that had already waived the fees.
A recent NIPSS report titled Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment, and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities highlighted the need for a nationwide RoW fee exemption to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation. The report also recommended key initiatives such as transitioning all government agencies to the OneGov.ng platform, adopting a multi-stakeholder model for digital innovation, securing long-term funding for the 3MTT digital skills programme, and fast-tracking Nigeria’s transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
Providing further updates on broadband expansion, Tijani revealed that the government has approved a $2 billion investment to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables nationwide. Backed by the Ministry of Finance and a $500 million commitment from the World Bank, this project will make Nigeria’s broadband network the third-largest in Africa, following South Africa and Egypt.
President Tinubu directed the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to work with relevant agencies to implement these recommendations. Reaffirming his administration’s focus on digital innovation and youth empowerment, he stated, “We remain committed to ensuring Nigeria’s young population has the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in the digital economy.”
Despite this progress, some states continue to impose steep RoW fees, with Ebonyi reportedly charging up to 69 times more than Ekiti, one of the lowest-cost states. According to GSMA, a uniform RoW fee of ₦145 per metre across all states could reduce national broadband deployment costs by about 15%.
The decision by these 11 states to waive RoW charges is a significant step towards reducing broadband costs and increasing internet access. However, sustained collaboration between the federal and state governments is needed to ensure seamless digital infrastructure development across Nigeria.
