By Adedapo Adesanya
In line with federal government’s penetration plan of 70 percent broadband reach, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has expressed its preparedness to collaborate with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to achieve this as they commit to unify he Right of Way charged across the country.
According to Chairman of the forum, Mr Kayode Fayemi, speaking after the meeting of the governors in Abuja on Thursday, January 23, he explained that the move was aimed at developing the states’ digital economic strategies.
The Ekiti State Governor noted that some of the areas needed intervention especially the harmonisation of all Rights of Way (RoW) charges and also the issues of multiple taxation that is expected to come with this development.
“Governors are committed to harmonising all Rights of Way charges to achieve the 70 percent national broadband penetration target by the end of the year 2020.
“Members (NGF members) also invite the ministry to take full advantage of the universal service provision fund (USPF) which was set up to facilitate investment in critical communication infrastructure across part of the country not considered commercially viable,” Mr Fayemi said.
On his part, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Pantami, said he was optimistic that such collaboration with the governors will help to speed up broadband penetration across the states.
According to him, the issues of multiple taxation and right of way charges, which the governors have promised to address, are some of the critical challenges militating against broadband penetration.
There has been a lot of problems including the Right of Way (RoW) levy paid to state governments to approve the passing of broadband fibre cables through their domains which are not been complied by state governments who hiked prices between 300-500 per linear metre from the approved N145 reached in 2013.
The Minister noted the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy and GDP depends on expanding the country’s broadband from the current 38 percent to at least 65 percent in 2024.
Aduragbemi Omiyale