Govs Back NCC’s Plan To Cut Costs, Boost Broadband Access

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has expressed support for the Nigerian Communications Commission's (NCC) plan to reduce costs and improve broadband access in the country. During a visit to the NGF Secretariat in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NCC, Aminu Maida, highlighted the high Right of Way (RoW) fees charged by state governments as a major obstacle to broadband growth.

The NGF chairman described the N145 per linear meter levy as a burden on telecom operators and suggested that waiving or reducing this fee would facilitate faster fiber optic deployment. The NGF proposed the establishment of State Broadband Coordinating Councils to harmonize policies and improve broadband access, emphasizing the importance of broadband as a foundational public good for state development.

Both parties pledged to work together to address these issues and drive investment in the digital economy.