Nigeria Hosts Business Roundtable on Boosting Broadband Investment and Infrastructure Protection

The Business Roundtable on Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Information Infrastructure brought together key stakeholders from government, the private sector, and the telecommunications industry to deliberate on the theme “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure: The Road to Success in Broadband Investment.”

The event focused on actionable strategies to enhance broadband penetration, streamline regulatory frameworks, and safeguard critical infrastructure against vandalism and disruptions. Participants included representatives from the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), state ministries, and investment promotion agencies.

During the sessions, rapporteurs presented 13 key action points agreed upon to drive broadband growth and infrastructure security across Nigeria. Among the highlights were:

• States are to reduce or eliminate Right of Way (RoW) levies within three months, following the models of Katsina and Nasarawa States.
• Administrative charges must be transparent and non-exorbitant to encourage investment.
• Community engagement initiatives should be introduced to promote digital literacy and protect telecom infrastructure.
• Fiber optic protection clauses will be added to state road contracts, with penalties for damage or vandalism.
• Telecom operators and the NCC are to collaborate on ensuring first-level security protection for national information assets.
• State governments and security agencies will strengthen cooperation to respond swiftly to cases of vandalism and illegal fiber excavation.

The NCC was designated as the lead agency for monitoring and evaluation, supported by the NGF, ONSA, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and telecom operators. Progress will be tracked through tools such as the National Infrastructure Implementation Tracker and the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI).

Stakeholders expressed optimism that, by 2026, Nigeria will see significant improvements in broadband-friendly policies, reduced infrastructure vandalism, and full compliance with the national Right of Way benchmark of ₦145 per meter.

The NCC also unveiled its Ease of Doing Business Portal, a digital platform designed to provide investors, operators, and policymakers with real-time data on broadband deployment, regulatory frameworks, and state-level connectivity insights.

Participants commended the NCC and the NGF for their coordination and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering an enabling environment for investment, innovation, and inclusive digital growth across Nigeria.