NCC Urges States to Align on Right of Way, Infrastructure Protection to Boost Broadband Investments
Dr. Maida made the call while delivering remarks at the Business Roundtable on Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure, held on Tuesday at the NCC Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja. The roundtable, themed “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity,” brought together governors, policymakers, security agencies, and industry leaders.
Opening his address with a rhetorical question — “How much is an hour of connectivity worth?” — the EVC underscored the indispensable role of digital connectivity in economic growth, national security, and social inclusion.
> “Connectivity is the quiet enabler. When it fails, opportunities evaporate, productivity stalls, and in critical situations, lives can be put at risk,” Maida said. “In today’s world, a community without digital connectivity is invisible.”
Connectivity as Economic Power
Highlighting the economic importance of broadband, Dr. Maida revealed that as of August 2025, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at 48.81%, with over 140 million internet users. He noted that the ICT and telecom sector remains one of the country’s top contributors to GDP.
Citing global data, he explained that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can drive 1.38% GDP growth in developing economies. “Imagine what a 20%, 30%, or 40% increase could mean for Nigeria — billions in economic output, new jobs, new services, and innovation hubs across our states,” he added.
Dr. Maida pointed to success stories in Rwanda and India, where strategic investments in backbone fibre and digital infrastructure have transformed both economies. He argued that with Nigeria’s youthful population of over 200 million and a median age of 18, the nation “can not only follow those trajectories but surpass them.”
Progress Under the National Broadband Plan
The EVC reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the targets of the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025), which aims for 70% broadband penetration and 90,000 kilometres of fibre deployment nationwide by the end of 2025.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for providing strategic direction, noting that the NCC has translated this vision into “deliberate and strategic action.”
Key among these actions is the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order, signed by President Tinubu in June 2024, which provides legal backing for the protection of telecom assets.
> “This Executive Order empowers law enforcement to act decisively against vandalism, theft, and denial of service, while ensuring continuous network availability,” Maida said.
The NCC, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has established a Telecommunications Industry Working Group to oversee implementation. Public awareness campaigns, media outreach, and judicial partnerships have been launched to deter infrastructure attacks.
According to Maida, within the past two years, ONSA has dismantled major cartels involved in telecom equipment theft, signaling “a new era of coordinated protection for Nigeria’s digital lifelines.”
Right of Way: The Persistent Barrier
Dr. Maida identified the high cost and inconsistency of Right of Way charges as one of the most persistent barriers to broadband rollout. Despite the N145 per linear metre benchmark set by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, some states continue to impose higher rates.
However, he noted positive progress, revealing that five more states — Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Benue, and Zamfara — have recently waived RoW fees, bringing the total number of states with zero charges to 11, while 17 others have aligned with the NGF benchmark.
> “Our engagement with state governments is yielding results. Where states have waived RoW and protected infrastructure, operators are expanding with confidence. Policy direction matters,” he emphasised.
Safeguarding the Digital Lifeline
Despite these gains, Maida lamented the high incidence of vandalism and fibre cuts, which continue to disrupt services and hinder progress. Between January and August 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre cut incidents, 3,241 equipment thefts, and over 19,000 denials of site access.
“These figures demonstrate why infrastructure protection must remain at the centre of our collective agenda,” he said.
Other challenges include energy supply instability, multiple taxation, and cumbersome permitting processes, which collectively increase the cost of doing business for telecom operators.
A Call to Collective Action
Dr. Maida urged state governors to adopt a unified, pro-investment stance, stressing that decisions at the subnational level directly impact the pace of national broadband development.
He outlined a set of concrete policy recommendations, including:
Full RoW waivers or adoption of the NGF benchmark nationwide.
Institutionalised coordination between state works departments and operators to prevent fibre damage.
Single-window permitting systems and published approval timelines.
State-level digital infrastructure funds to attract private capital into rural broadband.
Energy resilience initiatives, such as supporting hybrid and solar-powered telecom sites.
> “Every Governor and State represented here holds a strategic lever,” he said. “With alignment, our states can become digital growth engines; with delay, we risk watching opportunity pass us by.”
New NCC Initiatives
Looking ahead, Maida announced two major NCC initiatives set for launch:
1. Ease of Doing Business Portal – a one-stop platform linking investors with all 36 states and the FCT, simplifying information and regulatory processes.
2. Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI) – an annual scorecard measuring each state’s digital readiness and competitiveness.
“These tools will foster transparency, accountability, and competition for digital excellence across Nigeria,” he said.
A Vision for Nigeria’s Digital Future
Closing his address, Dr. Maida urged collective urgency and cooperation across all levels of government, the private sector, and development partners.
> “Pipelines of oil are giving way to pipelines of fibre,” he said. “Prosperity now lies in data, connectivity, and human potential. The digital revolution does not wait. Let us align, invest, and protect—for the prosperity of our people and the future of our nation.”
He ended with a pointed question to all stakeholders:
> “Will we align—or be left behind?”
Reporter’s Note:
The NCC’s roundtable marks a critical step in harmonising broadband infrastructure policy across Nigeria, as the country races to meet its 2025 broadband penetration target and unlocks the full potential of its digital economy.
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