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Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s communication technology minister, has announced her ministry in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Works has reviewed regulations on Federal Right of Way (RoW), which should bring down the cost of broadband rollout.
Johnson revealed this while presenting her mid-term review at the ICT Stakeholders Forum held in Lagos yesterday (Thursday).
According to the minister, the review has led to the standardisation of the process of applying for RoW, meaning applications can now be processed within 21 days.
She also revealed the right of way per linear kilometre has been reduced to NGN145,000 (US$900).
Describing the challenge RoW posed to broadband in Nigeria, the minister said prior to the review, about 40 per cent of broadband build cost for long haul (inter-state) and metro (intra-city) was spent on RoW – the same amount spent on civil works, fibre and equipment for the long haul, while it is two times higher than what is spent on civil works, fibre and equipment for metro.
Johnson also mentioned several other achievements of her ministry in the areas of connecting Nigeria, promoting innovation, job creation and local content, ICT in government, and creating enabling environment for the ICT sector to grow.
The ministry was created in 2011 “out of a recognition of the role of ICT in economic development, wealth and job creation, social development, and facilitating expansion of social service delivery across dispersed population”.
