The Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, @DrIsaPantami has urged Nigerian governors to emulate their Kwara State counterpart AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq @RealAARahman over the recent reduction of the Right of Way (RoW) charges for telecommunication companies.
In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye @rafiuajakaye the Communication Minister was quoted as saying that he was highly “delighted about the decision” of governor AbdulRazaq which the minister observed would go a long way in helping the implementation of the National Broadband Plan that was recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari
Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye released the statements on the official twitter account of Kwara state government @kwaragovt where he also quoted
Dr. Isa Ali Pantami as saying that the ministry hope that all other Governors will emulate the patriotic gesture showed by the Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
“We hope all other Governors emulate your patriotic gesture” Pantami said in a letter addressed to AbdulRazaq on behalf of the ministry.
The Kwara State Governor had recently directed the slashing of the RoW fee for telecommunication companies from ₦5,500 per linear metre to ₦1 per kilometre of fibre optic cables, — the second lowest in Nigeria after Kaduna.
The reduction which took effect immediately after the program’s launch. Before now, telecommunication companies were paying ₦5,500 per linear metre as the fee for laying fibre cables in the state.
The Governor said the decision was to strengthen digital penetration and improve Kwara’s ease of doing business ratings.
“I wish to offer my sincere appreciation to you for adhering to the resolution of the State Governors under the auspices of the Governors’ Forum on the 22nd of January 2020….Your resolution of the RoW is truly commendable,” Pantami said in the commendation letter.
“It will enhance the prospects of broadband penetration in the country and promote a digital economy for a digital Nigeria. We believe an executive order will further give the decision a stronger policy backing.”
The Chief Press Secretary also lauded governor AbdulRazaq for constantly setting the pace in many developmental areas of public policy. He also added that the governor’s 56.25 women cabinet is a first in subsaharan Africa, drawing applauses from across the country and beyond.
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