Nigerian Telcos Push for Urgent Implementation of Dig-Once Policy to Boost Fibre Deployment

Nigeria’s telecommunications operators have intensified calls for the adoption and implementation of a unified Dig-Once policy, as industry stakeholders gathered at the 8th edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) in Lagos. The forum, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, brought together policymakers, regulators, and private sector players to address persistent challenges in fibre deployment and accelerate the country’s digital infrastructure development.

The event, themed around accelerating Nigeria’s digital backbone, placed the Dig-Once policy at the center of discussions. The framework is designed to ensure that fibre infrastructure is deployed in a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective manner by allowing multiple utilities to share trenching opportunities, thereby reducing repeated road excavations and overall deployment costs. Industry leaders emphasized that without proper implementation of this policy, Nigeria risks slowing down its broadband expansion goals.

Key government officials in attendance included Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Aminu Maida of the Nigerian Communications Commission, and Ibrahim Adeyanju of Galaxy Backbone Limited. Their participation underscored the importance of aligning policy direction with industry realities to enable faster and more sustainable fibre rollout across the country.

Telecom operators used the platform to highlight ongoing operational challenges, noting that even when companies comply with regulations—such as obtaining permits, paying levies, and restoring infrastructure—they still face issues including harassment, multiple taxation, and infrastructure vandalism. Concerns were also raised about gaps in enforcement and regulatory oversight, which continue to hinder efficient network expansion.

The discussions come at a critical time as Nigeria pushes forward with its $2 billion Project BRIDGE initiative, which aims to expand the country’s fibre network from 35,000km to 125,000km by 2030. Stakeholders stressed that achieving this target will depend heavily on the effective implementation of policies like Dig-Once, alongside stronger coordination between federal, state, and local authorities.

Overall, the forum reinforced a unified message from industry players: while policy frameworks exist, the real challenge lies in execution. Telecom operators are urging government and regulators to move beyond policy formulation and focus on enforcement, collaboration, and accountability to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.