During a recent forum organised by the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria in Lagos, industry experts highlighted the urgent need to reduce fibre deployment costs to enhance broadband coverage and spur economic growth through digital services.
A significant topic of discussion was the inconsistent application of Right-of-Way (RoW) policies across Nigeria. While 13 states have eliminated RoW charges and 16 others have adopted the National Economic Council’s suggested fee of US$0.09 per linear meter, participants noted that the inconsistent implementation of these policies continues to inflate deployment costs and hinder network expansion.
Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), emphasised that fibre infrastructure is fundamental to Nigeria’s digital economy and should be treated as essential national infrastructure, rather than merely a commercial venture.
Maida also mentioned the Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE, which aims to expand fibre connectivity by an additional 90,000 kilometres across all 774 local government areas, thereby enhancing broadband coverage and bolstering network resilience. He stressed the importance of protecting telecom infrastructure to ensure the success of this initiative.
The scale of the challenge was illustrated by NCC data, which revealed that the telecom sector experienced over 27,685 fibre cuts, more than 27,000 instances of access denial, and 4,210 theft cases from January to December 2025. Industry representatives indicated that such incidents disrupt services, elevate operating costs, and deter investment in network development.
Adetola Akinmade, Chief Technology Officer of FiberOne, advocated for the creation of a national Digital Utility Corridor that would facilitate the installation of fibre alongside road, electricity, and water infrastructure. He argued that this strategy would minimise repeated excavation, reduce deployment costs, and enhance coordination between infrastructure projects.
The forum also called for increased infrastructure sharing, standardised ducting systems, and stricter enforcement of protections for Critical National Information Infrastructure. Participants believe these measures would help lower rollout expenses, enhance network resilience, and support Nigeria’s broadband expansion objectives.
