The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has called on other state governors to follow the example set by the governor of Ekiti state and chairman of the Nigerian governors’ forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi to reduce Right of Way charges.
Pantami made the call while responding to the report that the Ekiti State Government has signed an Executive Order reducing the Right of Way charges for telecommunications infrastructure from N4, 500 to N145 per meter.
By that act the Ekiti state governor became first state in Nigeria to comply with the National Executive Council approved Right of Way charges for broadband deployment. It was also a show leadership, as chairman of the governors’ forum.
According to the minister the reduction in the Right of Way charges will undoubtedly facilitate broadband penetration and ultimately, boost the national digital economy pursuit of the federal government.
“The report of the reduction in Right of Way charges by the Ekiti State Government is highly commendable. It will undoubtedly facilitate broadband penetration in Ekiti State. I hope other states will emulate the action as earlier agreed during our meeting,” he noted.
The hike in Right of Way charges earlier this year by 14 state governors and their agencies resulted in a meeting between the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta and the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
