Nigeria must harmonise and reduce right-of-way charges imposed by states and strengthen laws protecting telecommunications infrastructure to lower the cost of digital investment and accelerate network expansion, Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has said. Nigerian Banking Launch
Adebayo made the call at a panel session titled ‘Innovation, Investment and the Next Decade of Partnerships’ at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Tuesday, where business leaders and policymakers discussed the conditions required to attract long-term investment into Nigeria.
He said inconsistent charges for access to land and rights of way, alongside high land rents and the risk of damage to network infrastructure, remained concerns for telecommunications operators seeking to expand services and improve connectivity.
According to him, the government needs to create a more consistent regulatory environment across states while strengthening the legal framework for protecting critical telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
‘I don’t see why states should still charge for right of way. And we are starting an advocacy on why we think right of way should be provided free of charge.
‘We require stronger legislation to solidify the possession of our assets. More than that also, the consequence management also has to be better,’ he said
The calls come as Nigeria seeks to attract more investment into its digital economy, where reliable telecommunications networks are essential to financial services, commerce, education and other technology-enabled activities. Nigerian Banking Launch
Adebayo advocated free right-of-way access across all states, arguing that the cost of securing access for fibre-optic cables and other network infrastructure should not become an additional barrier to investment.
For operators, differing charges and requirements across states can complicate network deployment, increase project costs and make expansion more difficult, particularly where infrastructure must cross multiple jurisdictions.
A uniform approach, he argued, would help create a more predictable environment for telecommunications companies planning infrastructure projects and seeking to extend coverage to underserved communities.
Adebayo said infrastructure damage had declined since telecommunications assets were designated as critical national infrastructure, while enforcement and consequence management had improved. However, he argued that existing laws and penalties needed to be strengthened to provide more effective protection for operators’ investments.
He called for legislation that would make the protection of telecommunications infrastructure more effective, noting that damage to networks can disrupt essential services and increase the cost of maintaining and expanding connectivity.
‘We think that there’s a need for us to look at that and see how best we can provide commensurate consequence for actions that are impactful on our services,’ he added
Also speaking, Shuaibu Afolabi, chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, said the 2025 amendment had designated critical national information infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, banking systems and the National Identity Number database.
Nigeria must harmonise and reduce right-of-way charges imposed by states and strengthen laws protecting telecommunications infrastructure to lower the cost of digital investment and accelerate network expansion, Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has said. Nigerian Banking Launch
Adebayo made the call at a panel session titled ‘Innovation, Investment and the Next Decade of Partnerships’ at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Tuesday, where business leaders and policymakers discussed the conditions required to attract long-term investment into Nigeria.
He said inconsistent charges for access to land and rights of way, alongside high land rents and the risk of damage to network infrastructure, remained concerns for telecommunications operators seeking to expand services and improve connectivity.
According to him, the government needs to create a more consistent regulatory environment across states while strengthening the legal framework for protecting critical telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
‘I don’t see why states should still charge for right of way. And we are starting an advocacy on why we think right of way should be provided free of charge.
‘We require stronger legislation to solidify the possession of our assets. More than that also, the consequence management also has to be better,’ he said
The calls come as Nigeria seeks to attract more investment into its digital economy, where reliable telecommunications networks are essential to financial services, commerce, education and other technology-enabled activities. Nigerian Banking Launch
Adebayo advocated free right-of-way access across all states, arguing that the cost of securing access for fibre-optic cables and other network infrastructure should not become an additional barrier to investment.
For operators, differing charges and requirements across states can complicate network deployment, increase project costs and make expansion more difficult, particularly where infrastructure must cross multiple jurisdictions.
A uniform approach, he argued, would help create a more predictable environment for telecommunications companies planning infrastructure projects and seeking to extend coverage to underserved communities.
Adebayo said infrastructure damage had declined since telecommunications assets were designated as critical national infrastructure, while enforcement and consequence management had improved. However, he argued that existing laws and penalties needed to be strengthened to provide more effective protection for operators’ investments.
He called for legislation that would make the protection of telecommunications infrastructure more effective, noting that damage to networks can disrupt essential services and increase the cost of maintaining and expanding connectivity.
‘We think that there’s a need for us to look at that and see how best we can provide commensurate consequence for actions that are impactful on our services,’ he added
Also speaking, Shuaibu Afolabi, chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, said the 2025 amendment had designated critical national information infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, banking systems and the National Identity Number database.