Date: 2020-06-01

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has directed the slashing of the Right of Way (RoW) fee for telecommunications firms (telcos) from N5,500 per linear metre to N1 per kilometre of fibre.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the state's Commissioner for Communication, Murtala Olanrewaju, on Sunday.

The RoW charge is the levy paid to state governments for the laying of optic fibre by telecoms operators.

Before now, operators were paying N5,500 per linear metre as the fee for laying fibre cables in the state to strengthen their digital connections.

The commissioner noted that the revised fee which takes effect immediately is the second lowest in Nigeria after Kaduna.

"Governor AbdulRazaq has directed that the RoW fee be slashed to N1 only per kilometre, a decision designed to deepen digital penetration in Kwara State, jerk up the state's ease of doing business ratings, and ease people's access to the internet and other digital communication even in the remotest part of the state."

"Apart from driving up investment in the sector, the long-term effects of this significant step such as strengthening access to digital communications and bringing more businesses to the hinterlands cannot be quantified," Mr Olanrewaju quoted Governor AbdulRazaq.

Speaking on the reason for reducing the fee, Mr Olanrewaju explained that internet and broadband penetration has a direct correlation with economic development.

"A study carried out by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on Africa reported that a 10 per cent broadband penetration would lead to a 2.5% increment of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.

"The National Economic Council (NEC) had recently resolved to encourage technological advancement as a way to fast track economic develoCOVID 19. Nigeria casesVenngage Infographics