The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at harmonising Right of Way (RoW) policies, boosting broadband connectivity, and accelerating digital transformation across the states.
This development followed a courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who led a delegation to the NGF Secretariat in Abuja. The team was warmly received by the Director-General of the NGF, Abdulateef Shittu, alongside other senior officials.
NGF’s Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Tanko Abdullahi, in a statement on Wednesday, explained that the new alliance is expected to strengthen broadband penetration while also protecting critical national information infrastructure (CNII) at the subnational level.
Dr. Maida praised the NGF for its openness to collaboration, stressing that aligning national and state-level digital infrastructure is vital for Nigeria’s economic growth. He particularly highlighted the issue of Right of Way charges, which are currently pegged at ₦145 per linear metre in many states. According to him, these fees impose a significant burden on telecom operators and discourage investment in fibre optic deployment.
“The Right of Way is a critical element in opening up the digital economy, and this lies within the purview of the states. Waiving or reducing these fees will fast-track fibre deployment, expand coverage, and benefit millions of Nigerians,” Maida said.
Shittu, on his part, described broadband and secure digital infrastructure as essential public goods. He observed that despite Nigeria’s progress in internet connectivity, broadband penetration remains below the threshold needed for inclusive digital transformation.
He outlined four key areas where the NCC and NGF can work together: creating State Broadband Coordinating Councils for institutional alignment, harmonising policies to standardise RoW rules, developing state-level plans to protect critical national information infrastructure, and promoting knowledge-sharing for capacity building.
The NGF DG pointed to the World Bank’s State Action on Broadband Expansion (SABRE) initiative as an example of best practice. According to him, states that have lowered or waived RoW charges, introduced coordinated trenching practices, and streamlined approval processes have seen rapid growth in fibre network coverage and improved access to high-capacity internet.
Both the NCC CEO and NGF DG agreed that easing Right of Way restrictions would stimulate telecom growth, create jobs, improve education and healthcare delivery, and expand the tax base for state governments.
Shittu emphasised that broader fibre optic coverage directly translates into higher productivity and inclusive growth. He proposed that the upcoming NCC Business Roundtable should be used to secure concrete commitments from state governments and recommended follow-up workshops to help lagging states adopt policies already working in leading ones.
“With states controlling key areas such as land use, security, and permitting, governors hold the power to unlock digital growth. The NGF will bring political will, coordination capacity, and the convening power of governors to drive this agenda,” he said.
The NCC-NGF partnership marks another step in Nigeria’s push to achieve universal, affordable, and resilient connectivity, which is central to the country’s economic diversification and digital transformation agenda.
