The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is prepared to collaborate with the UK Government Prosperity Fund-Nigeria Project on the need to reform the administration of Right of Way, RoW, and planning permits in Nigeria.
The assurance was given on Thursday by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, during the virtual forum on Right of Way Reforms and Planning Permits for Masts and Towers in Nigeria.
The event was organised by the British Government’s Prosperity Fund’s Digital Access Programme in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.
“We note, the short, medium, and long-term actions set up in the report and we will work assiduously to their achievement. We also, encourage our service providers to appreciate some of the challenges faced by the state government and hope this will enable them to collaborate with the state government to effectively overcome the challenges,” he said.
Represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu, Danbatta congratulated and thanked the UK Government Prosperity Fund Digital Access Project team for organising the event.
Also, he commended the robust contributions of all stakeholders and the general support of the UK government to Nigeria’s digital transformation processes, in particular to this event.
“It is a conversation of ideas that will support existing policies and commitment to Broadband for all,” he stressed.
During the occasion, Danbatta pointed out that resilient Telecoms Infrastructure was key enabler in delivering ICT services to maximise the benefits of digital transformation.
He described the conference as very apt as it provided effective solutions to Right of Way (RoW) challenges amongst others.
“The input of this conference will assist the Government in further reducing the encumbrances bedeviling ICT infrastructure, especially in the provision/ building of resilient fixed infrastructure in the federation.
“Equally, this event will further assist in our quest to deepen broadband deployment and penetration in Nigeria.
“Furthermore, ubiquitous broadband will propel social and economic development and growth of citizens, as in; local content development and innovations, the proliferation of ICT industries, building digital skills, etc,” he said.
