Several state governments across Nigeria have continued to impose additional charges on telecommunications operators despite the Federal Government’s directive to harmonise Right of Way (RoW) fees at N145 per linear metre.
The development is raising concerns within the telecommunications industry, with operators warning that the additional charges could slow broadband infrastructure deployment and undermine efforts to expand internet access across the country.
The RoW policy was adopted following a 2020 directive by the National Economic Council, which encouraged states to adopt a uniform N145-per-linear-metre charge to reduce the cost of laying fibre-optic infrastructure and accelerate broadband expansion.
However, a recent review of state charges obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that some states have retained high RoW fees, while others have introduced application and processing charges despite reducing or eliminating the main RoW fee.
For instance, Adamawa, which has removed its RoW fee, charges operators N100,000 per application. Cross River charges N250,000 in application fees despite adopting the N145-per-metre rate, while Ekiti imposes an application fee of N700,000.
Taraba charges N350,000 per application, Oyo collects N50,000, Yobe N25,000 and Gombe N10,000.
Some states have also continued to charge significantly above the recommended N145 rate. Kano reportedly charges N2,754 per linear metre, Delta N2,706, Rivers N2,256, Osun N1,500 and Akwa Ibom N2,000. Ogun has been identified among states with particularly high charges.
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said some states were effectively replacing RoW fees with other levies.
According to him, operators in some states are required to pay developmental, educational, environmental, effluent discharge, capital deployment and application fees, even when governments claim to have reduced RoW charges to zero.
He warned that the additional financial burden could discourage telecom operators from deploying infrastructure in affected areas, leaving millions of Nigerians without adequate connectivity.
The issue comes as Nigeria continues to pursue wider broadband coverage and fibre deployment.
The NCC has repeatedly identified fibre infrastructure as critical to improving internet connectivity and supporting economic activities including education, healthcare, commerce and financial services.
Industry stakeholders have therefore called for greater coordination between federal and state authorities to ensure that the harmonised RoW policy is implemented consistently and that additional charges do not defeat the purpose of the reform.
If the disparity persists, operators say the cost of expanding broadband infrastructure could remain high, potentially slowing Nigeria’s digital transformation and widening the connectivity gap between well-served and underserved communities.
