Katsina waives right of way charges for telcos

The Katsina government has waived the right of way (RoW) charges for telecommunication firms (telcos) in the state.

The RoW charge is the levy telcos pay to the state governments for laying optic fibre cables that carry internet traffic on state roads.

Ibrahim Kaula, chief press secretary to Dikko Radda, governor of the state, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.

He said the move is sequel to the signing of an executive order titled, “Right of Way (RoW) Charges Regulation Order 2023,” by the governor on Friday.

He said the order was being promulgated in exercise of the powers conferred upon the governor by section (5)2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“This order may be cited as the Right of Way (RoW) charges (Regulation) Order and shall be deemed to come into effect on Dec. 8, 2023,” NAN quoted Radda as saying. 

“From the commencement of the Order, charges on Right of Way (RoW) throughout the State shall be free of charge per linear metre.” 

Radda said “normally, the RoW charge fixed by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), is N145 per linear meter”.

The spokesperson said other states charged “even above that amount”, but the governor’s latest order has now made it free in the state.

He said the move was geared towards attracting telecom investors to the state.

Radda assured that the move will soon attract investments for Katsina, especially in the areas of information and communications technology (ICT) and internet development. 

In May 2020, Kaduna, under the leadership of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of the state, had also waived RoW charges for telecommunications companies.