The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is partnering with the British government to address challenges hindering the deployment of digital infrastructure across the country, as a result of right of way (RoW) bottlenecks arising from multiple fees and approval processes imposed by state governments and other government agencies.
The British governments input into the reform process is through its Prosperity Fund’s Digital Access Programme which had empowered, Greenfields Law, a leading telecom policy, law and regulation firm in the country to carry out a technical study on right of way challenges and proffer solution.
In collaboration with the Digital Access Programme, the first Nigeria Technical Conference on RoW was held yesterday to aggregate views from stakeholders, to advance policy and regulatory reforms on RoW and issuance of planning permits for mast and towers arising from the study outcome.
The virtual forum is one of the key deliverable of the UK’s Technical Assistance project on RoW, which was initiated in April 2020 to assess the existing strategy, charging regime and measure that against economic development indicators.
Several governors were present at the virtual meeting. They include those of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, Imo , Senator Hope Uzodinma, Katsina, Aminu Masari Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Plateau state, Mr Simon Lalong. The Ekiti state governor, and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi was represented.
The study determined conducive ROW system, reforms that need to be implemented and how to enforce collaboration among relevant stakeholders in the digital access ecosystem.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing who spoke at the conference said: “Nigeria has seen great progress in the effort to provide inclusive digital access to millions of its citizens. The COVID19 pandemic has however, made the world rely more heavily on internet connectivity for access to basic necessities – health, education, work, shopping, convenience and other services. As such, substantial digital inequities have been revealed.
“The UK is keen to support the promotion of affordable, inclusive, safe and secure digital access for underserved or excluded populations, and this conference is a significant step to discuss the technical findings of our preliminary study, outcomes, lingering challenges and the way forward.
Communications and Digital Economy minister, Dr. Ibrahim Pantami who gave the keynote address thanked the UK government for supporting the Nigeria Digital Economy agenda, adding that the government had supported the country in the development of the new national broadband plan through the Digital Access Programme.
He said: “Nigeria has in the last one year of my time as minister, added 10per cent to the broadband penetration level in the country. RoW reform is the key to unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy for inclusive digital growth and we have worked with the Nigerian Governors Forum to achieve some important results already. We will continue to champion these reforms on RoW and work on the challenges identified by the technical study.”
He said the conference was relevant to the federal government’s 2020-2025 broadband plan and the digital economy drive of the Mohammad BuHari Government, adding that by 2022 DIGITAL ECONOMY will bring in about $11. Trillion to the world economy as about 80 per cent of world economy would have been digitized.
Patanmi said lack of harmonization and engagement with stakeholders and Hindered progress in resolving ROW issues, noting tat wen e came in as minister e reached to the governors who were willing to collaborate to resolve the issues.
Reacting to the technical study and the next steps, the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta thanked the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme for the support in championing reforms on RoW to deepen digital inclusion in Nigeria.
Danbatta who was represented by the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, the said: “The Technical Assistance on RoW reforms will assist in our quest for deepening broadband penetration in Nigeria. NCC is willing and ready to advance the reforms noted in the technical study and will collaborate with stakeholders to effect it in the short, medium and long term.”
Applauding state governments that have announced the reforms on RoW, the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme Adviser and Country Lead, Idongesit Udoh, said: “This project will help accelerate the roll-out of backbone connectivity infrastructure, to underserved communities which is the key to unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy for inclusive, digitally-enabled growth, development and job creation for Nigerians.
