The Katsina State Government has removed the Right of Way (RoW) charges expected to be paid by telecommunication firms before laying optic fibres in any part of the state.
Governor Dikko Radda’s chief press secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Kaula, revealed this in a statement on Friday and stated that the purpose of the action was to entice telecom investors to the state.
He clarified that this was a follow-up to the governor’s signature of the “Right of Way (RoW) charges Regulation Order 2023” on Friday.
The order was granted in the exercise of the powers conferred upon the governor by Section (5)2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)
“This order may be cited as the Right of Way (RoW) charges (Regulation) Order and shall be deemed to come into effect on December 8, 2023.
“From the commencement of the Order, charges on Right of Way (RoW) throughout the state shall be free of charge per linear metre,” he stated.
Kaula explained that the RoW charge was the levy paid to state governments for the laying of optic fibre by telecom operators.
He said, “Normally, the RoW charge fixed by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), is N145 let linear meter”.
He pointed out that other states charged even above that amount, but Radda’s latest Order had now made it free in Katsina State.
“I have no doubt that the move will soon attract investments for Katsina, especially in the areas of ICT and internet development,” Kaula stressed.
NAN
