Anambra Waives Charges On Right-of-way To Boost Digital Adoption

The Anambra state government has waived all charges for Right of Way to allow speedy deployment of broadband infrastructure across the state.

While a few other governments have stated that they are prepared to adhere to the harmonised costs of N145 per linear metre, Anambra state, along with Kaduna, are the first two state governments to announce no fees for right-of-way, which had been cited as a significant barrier to the development of broadband infrastructure.

The managing director/chief executive officer of the Anambra state ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Lagos on Thursday, said waiver by the state was in line with the ‘Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere’ vision of the state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo.

Agbata averred that the implementation of the Right of Way charges removal by the state government is the first step to a digital economy that will encourage key investors, innovators, and businesses to the state, adding that Anambra prides itself as the first State in Southeast Nigeria to implement the waiver of the per linear meter Right of Way (RoW) charges as opposed to the N145 per linear metre recommended by the National Economic Council in 2020.

“Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has always demonstrated determination to turn Anambra state into a digitally driven economy. The broadband drive is one of the many ways to do it and at the same time, it connects to other plans. Yes, because without connectivity eGovernment programmes would become a mirage.

“Africa’s digital landscape is changing at a rapid rate and Anambra State is no different. The Governor approved the implementation of the zero charges on Right of Way because he understands the benefits are enormous. We are partnering with GICL which is giving us a lot of connectivity capacity that we are hopeful will leapfrog the State’s digital economy agenda. This will power the Governor’s lodge and by extension, a local government and a university, as pilot,” he further disclosed.

Agbata said that, Prof. Soludo, has demonstrated huge interest in deploying modern strategies to eliminate bottlenecks to digital access, by reversing infrastructure decline in the state, even as he disclosed that this initiative will boost WiFi Hotspot rollout to government offices, schools, and communities to diversify the economy, leveraging digital services for eGovernment, commerce, education, and innovation.