NCC Rewards Nasarawa’s Right Of Way Law With Free Wireless Internet Cloud

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has rewarded Nasarawa State with a free wireless internet cloud installation at one of its state-owned tertiary institutions, recognising the recent passage of the Right of Way Regulation 2023.

Governor Abdullahi Sule announced the award during an emergency executive council meeting at the Government House in Lafia.

LEADERSHIP reports that the State Right of Way Regulation 2023, effective since December 29, 2023, waives RoW charges for installing, placing, laying, and maintaining telecommunication network facilities in Nasarawa.

Governor Sule stated that Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, communicated the award in appreciation of the law’s passage, seen as a significant step towards fostering a thriving digital economy.

The award includes a 10km fiber network, a network operating center, a dedicated power bank with a 10kva hybrid online inverter, 240 Mbps of free internet service, and one free line internet bandwidth, all to be installed in a chosen tertiary institution within the state.

Governor Sule recalled a similar gesture benefiting Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic (IMAP) during Professor Isa Pantami’s tenure.

Other agenda items discussed at the meeting included the recent arrival of funds pursued by the administration for the past two years. Governor Sule emphasized the need to ensure maximum utilization of these funds and informed the council of their arrival last week.

The council deliberated on various projects for these funds, including funding the infrastructure fund established by law in 2021, requiring 5% of Internally Generated Revenue to be allocated for infrastructure attracting investment; deploying a portion of the funds as either loans or interventions to assist local governments in settling outstanding worker salaries for the ₦10,000 subsidy removal palliative; and constructing an underpass or flyover near the Total Filling Station in Lafia to ease traffic congestion.

While Governor Sule announced the Federal Ministry of Works’ approval for the Lafia underpass construction, he expressed concerns about such a construction based on advice from colleagues who have built underpasses in Kano and Katsina states. They highlighted the unsuitability of underpasses in areas prone to indiscriminate waste dumping.

He explained the council’s need to choose between building a disadvantageous underpass or a more expensive, yet beneficial, flyover.

He described the suggested flyover starting from Zenith Bank on Jos Road, extending about one kilometer before reaching the Masallacin Gabas junction. While acknowledging that the available funds might not be sufficient for the flyover’s immediate construction, he stated that completion could be achieved within three years.