IT News Nigeria:
The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, Thursday visited the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi in Abuja, a move aimed at resolving the issues surrounding Right o Way (RoW) crisis in the telecoms industry.
Recalled, 14 states government increased RoW charges for laying internet fibre optic cables and telecoms infrastructure barely 72 hours after the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Ali Pantami said he had written all the state Governors to comply with the N145 RoW charges. The states include Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Ondo, Cross River, Kogi, Osun, Kaduna, Enugu, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Imo, Kebbi and Gombe, have raised RoW for telecoms infrastructure.
The outcome of the meeting is not immediately known but it is a strong indication that government and the apex industry watchdog, NCC, are determined to bring an end to the problems of laying cables for internet access across the states.
Government
said it is dismayed the decision of some states of the Federation to increase
the Right of Way charges in disregard of the resolutions reached by the
National Economic Council (NEC). In 2013, NEC set up a Committee comprising
State Governors and Ministers to review
the issues of multiple taxation in the telecommunications Industry in Nigeria
and its impact. The Committee, after extensive and wide-ranging consultations,
resolved to harmonize the taxes applicable to broadband related activities and
streamline the taxation management processes across the Federation.
Specifically, to deepen broadband penetration for the social and economic
development of the country, the Committee agreed to the uniform Right of Way
(RoW) charge of N145.00 per linear
meter of fibre.
It may also be recalled that in October 2019, we had written to all the State Governors, drawing their attention to these resolutions and soliciting their support and collaboration towards the realisation of the National Digital Economy by fast-tracking the deployment of broadband infrastructure for the provision of affordable internet services to underserved and unserved areas.
