The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has disclosed that Nigerian governors have conceded to Right of Way, RoW, agreement to deepen broadband penetration across the country.
A statement by the Technical Assistant to the minister, Femi Adeluyi, said the resolution followed a presentation made by the minister during a meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on Wednesday.
According to him, one of the key benefits of the increase in broadband penetration is the rapid growth in the gross domestic product, GDP, of any country that increases its broadband penetration.
Mr Pantami urged the state governors to adopt the 2013 resolutions reached by the National Economic Council, NEC, which agreed on a maximum RoW charge of N145.00 per linear meter of fibre.
In addition to the discussion on the RoW, according to Mr Adeluyu, the minister also discussed the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, which was unveiled President Muhammadu Buhari, on November 28, 2019.
Mr Pantami, therefore, urged the state governors to key into the Policy and Strategy.
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He also informed them of the plan of the Federal Government to help the States with a Digital Economy Strategy, through Policy, Digital Skills and other areas of intervention.
Responding to the presentation, the Chairman of the governors’ forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, while acknowledging the benefits of broadband penetration, said the minister should consider the matter resolved.
“There will no longer be any need to appeal to the Governors on the issue of RoW,” he stated.
Mr Pantami assured that the charge was in a bid to deepen broadband penetration in the country and promote a Digital Economy for a Digital Nigeria.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the minister was at the meeting in company of Prof Umar Danbatta, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission; Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency and Funke Opeke, Chairperson of the Presidential Committee on National Broadband Plan for 2020-2025.
