Stakeholders in the telecommunications sector have raised concerns about the Federal Government’s plan to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cables across Nigeria. They identified major obstacles, particularly from state governments, that could hinder the project’s success.
Speaking at the Sixth Edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) in Lagos, industry leaders emphasized the need to address the current issues of Right of Way (RoW) charges, multiple taxation, and various levies controlled by state governments. Without resolving these challenges, they argued, the project would likely fail despite being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
Mr. Chidi Ibisi, Executive Director of Broadbased Communications, presented a paper titled “Harmonizing Nigeria’s Fibre Deployment Strategies for Effective Implementation.” He acknowledged that while the government’s SPV initiative is promising, the high costs of RoW, fibre destruction by road construction, and vandalism must be addressed for the initiative to succeed.
Mr. Chidi Ajuzie, Group Chief Operating Officer of WTES Projects Limited, highlighted informal RoW challenges posed by local hoodlums. He described the extortion telecom operators face from local landowners and other groups, complicating fibre deployment in areas like Lagos.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), stressed the need for state governments to take ownership of the project. He criticized state governments for treating RoW as a revenue source rather than supporting digital infrastructure development. Adebayo pointed out that while some governors promise minimal RoW charges, they often impose other levies that offset any cost savings.
Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centre (OADC), called for private sector execution of the fibre project, even as the World Bank is expected to provide up to $3 billion in funding. He emphasized the importance of engaging the private sector to effectively implement the project and learning from past failures to achieve meaningful broadband penetration.
Coker urged state governors to create an enabling environment for infrastructure roll-out, warning that states that do not participate will lag in growth.
The conference, convened by Mr. Omobayo Azeez, aimed to foster dialogue between public and private digital economy stakeholders. The event focused on Nigeria’s renewed strategic agenda for digital economy, exploring ways to accelerate collective prosperity through technical efficiency.
Azeez highlighted that the new digital economy blueprint not only sustains existing policy directions but also challenges stakeholders to attain new frontiers, encapsulated by the summit’s theme: “Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency.”
