NCC flags Right-of-Way charges, vandalism as major threats to Nigeria’s broadband expansion

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has identified regulatory bottlenecks, high right-of-way (RoW) charges and the persistent vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure as major obstacles slowing Nigeria’s digital transformation and broadband expansion.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the disclosure during a fibre optic infrastructure training programme organised by the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Abuja.

The programme, held at the DBI headquarters in Jabi and sponsored by the European Union (EU) under its Global Gateway Initiative, brought together 31 participants from 10 countries across Africa and Europe to build technical capacity in fibre optic infrastructure deployment.

Represented by the NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Sunday Abraham, Maida said the development of robust and well-regulated fibre infrastructure remains critical to Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions.

According to him, expanding broadband infrastructure is central to improving connectivity, financial inclusion, digital innovation and public service delivery across the country.

“Robust, well-regulated fibre optic infrastructure is the foundation for any digital transformation agenda,” he said.

Maida disclosed that under the Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE, plans are underway to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across Nigeria to extend high-speed broadband connectivity to all 774 local government areas.

He, however, noted that the ambitious programme continues to face significant implementation challenges, particularly regulatory constraints, multiple right-of-way charges and infrastructure vandalism.

The NCC boss said progress was being made through policy reforms, revealing that 13 states have waived right-of-way charges, a move that has already begun attracting increased investment from telecommunications operators.

He also highlighted the impact of the 2024 Presidential Order designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), saying the policy is expected to strengthen the protection of telecom assets against vandalism and sabotage.

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Bridge Institute, David Daser, described the training as a strategic investment in developing a skilled workforce capable of supporting broadband expansion and digital innovation across the continent.

According to him, the programme goes beyond technical training by creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, innovation and international collaboration among participating countries.

“This programme represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to advance resilient, inclusive and future-ready digital infrastructure across our nations. It is not just a training but a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and international collaboration,” Daser said.

He explained that participants would receive practical training in fibre deployment planning, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure sharing and stakeholder engagement—competencies considered essential for accelerating broadband rollout and creating digital employment opportunities.

Daser added that DBI’s collaboration with the ITU through initiatives such as the ITU Academy Training Centre and the Digital Transformation Centre continues to strengthen efforts to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive participation in the global digital economy.

Also speaking, Ghazi Mabrouk, Project Officer at the ITU, said the programme forms part of the organisation’s global capacity-building initiatives, which deliver more than 150 training programmes annually.

He commended participants for their commitment to advancing digital skills and described DBI as one of the ITU’s key training partners in Africa.

Representing the European Union, Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Section for Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

She described fibre optic infrastructure as the backbone of digital development and disclosed that the EU has committed €820 million to Nigeria’s digital economy through initiatives aimed at expanding digital infrastructure, promoting innovation and strengthening digital skills.

Stefanowicz stressed that greater private sector participation would be essential to closing infrastructure gaps, noting that EU-supported programmes are designed to mobilise financing, technical expertise and sustainable technologies to accelerate broadband deployment.

Industry experts say addressing right-of-way challenges, protecting telecom infrastructure and strengthening regulatory coordination will be critical to achieving the Federal Government’s broadband penetration targets and unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.