Just in: High RoW charges’ll derail digital economy progress – DEMS Volunteers’
Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers (DEMS Volunteers) has described as observed hike in the prices of the Right of Way (RoW) for deployment of telecom infrastructure by some Governors, saying such hike will derail digital economy progress currently being championed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami.
Recall that Thisday Newspaper had earlier on Monday, 06 January 2020, reported that Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Ondo, Cross River, Kogi, Osun, Kaduna, Enugu, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Imo, Kebbi and Gombe have hiked the cost of Right of Way (RoW) for telecoms infrastructure.
The Newspaper gathered that instead of the Federal Government’s N145 per linear meter, the states have actually increased the cost of RoW from their initial fee of between N300 to N500 per linear metre to between N3,000 and N6,000 per linear metre.
Reacting vide a statement in Lagos, DEMS Volunteers, a media experts driven awareness Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) majoring on every issue that has to do with concept of the digital economy in every sector condemned the action of the Governors.
The statement, signed by the group’s Director of Communications, Mr. Peter Oluka, believes that the action of the Governors will truncate the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy’s effort towards reducing the cost of data and other telecom services, as a hike in RoW will naturally pass the additional cost to telecoms consumers.
DEMS Volunteers’ averred that “We condemn in strong term action of the Governors. Hike in RoW will derail digital economy progress and postpone Nigeria’s quest for internet coverage of the country, which is the idea behind Buhari’s acceptance of the name change to include Digital Economy.”
While urging the Federal Government to call an emergency meeting with states to harmonise RoW fees, the statement also reminded the Governors that InfraCos should not be seen as money bags but promoters of technology which will even help states to achieve more economic progress on delivery.
The statement added that DEMS Volunteers, as a promoter of Digital Economy is ready to partner with the Ministry and other advocacy group like ALTON, ATCON and even the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission to reach out many states with the message of propagating digital economy across states.
