Pantami: Governors have agreed to reverse hiked RoW charges

Isa Pantami, the minister of communications and digital economy, says governors have agreed to reverse the hike in right of way (RoW) hike charges.

According to a statement by Femi Adeluyi, technical assistant to the minister, the resolution was reached after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

At the meeting, Pantami urged the governors to adopt the 2013 resolutions reached by the national economic council, which agreed on a maximum RoW charge of N145.00 per linear meter of fibre.

TheCable had earlier reported that 14 states hiked RoW charges, which would increase operating costs for telecommunications companies and resulted in increased rates for consumers.

The RoW charge is the levy paid to state governments for laying of optic fibre on state roads.

In his remarks, Pantami said a reduction of the rates would deepen broadband penetration and cause rapid growth in the gross domestic product.

In response, Kayode Fayemi, chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, assured the minister that the matter has been resolved.

“There will no longer be any need to appeal to the Governors on the issue of RoW,” he said.