Niger waives right-of-way fees for telcos, introduces ₦500,000 one-time permit 

Niger State has officially waived right-of-way (RoW) fees for fibre optic infrastructure, becoming the twelfth Nigerian state to implement the policy to incentivise telecom operators and expand internet access.

The policy, formalised in a government gazette dated September 2, 2024, and signed by Governor Muhammed Umar Bago, is part of a broader effort to attract private-sector investment, extend internet access to remote communities, and digitise public services. Under the new policy, telecom operators will pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee of ₦500,000 ($311.80).

According to Suleiman Isah, Niger State’s Commissioner for Communications Technology and Digital Economy, the fee covers both initial network deployment and any future expansions. 

“Even if a company received its permit ten years ago, they are not required to pay again for expansion—just notify the state,” Isah told TechCabal.

RoW fees—levied by state governments for laying fibre optic cables—have long been a bottleneck to broadband expansion across Nigeria, creating high entry costs for telecom operators like MTN Nigeria, Airtel Africa, and Globacom.

The effort to harmonise Right-of-Way fees began in 2013, when the National Executive Council (NEC) proposed a uniform fee of ₦145 ($0.09) per linear metre. However, adoption has been uneven, with only around 35% of states reducing or waiving the fees.

Niger, the state with the fifth largest fibre infrastructure (3,681.66km), now joins the list of states—Zamfara, Katsina, Anambra, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Ekiti, Imo, and Plateau—that have either eliminated or significantly reduced RoW charges to attract investment. 

“A no-fee RoW policy will attract substantial investments from telecommunication companies, leading to expanded network coverage, especially in rural and underserved areas, and creating a favourable business environment that supports job creation and economic growth,” Governor Bago said in the gazette.

Niger hopes the waiver will encourage more operators to invest in fibre infrastructure and help close the connectivity gap in one of Nigeria’s largest and most underserved regions.