The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) recently held a one-day strategic stakeholders meeting in Abuja, themed “Harnessing States’ Potential through Technical Efficiencies.” The event brought together State Commissioners, including those from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Permanent Secretaries, and Heads of ICT Agencies.

Tony Emoekpere, ATCON President, stressed the need for greater collaboration between telecom operators and regulators to achieve Nigeria’s broadband expansion goals.

Yahaya Yusuf Abubakar, Head of Broadband Implementation at the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), presented the NCC’s efforts to tackle bottlenecks and Right of Way (RoW) issues, highlighting initiatives like the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and the Broadband Alliance. He emphasized the importance of state-level broadband infrastructure, noting that Nigeria has achieved 76,000 kilometers of its 120,000-kilometer fiber target.

Chanel Scott, Senior VP at Pan African Towers, discussed industry challenges such as multiple taxation and infrastructure security, calling for better state-industry collaboration and innovative solutions like a dashboard system for tower issues. Saidu Abdullahi, Director of Regulatory Affairs at IHS, also addressed operational challenges and the need for cooperation.

State ICT representatives from Ogun, Adamawa, Enugu, Nasarawa, Taraba, Anambra, Gombe, Cross Rivers, and Niger State urged for improved partnerships and communication with operators. They highlighted the role of state governments in local infrastructure development and recommended investment in community projects to reduce sabotage. They emphasized that while operators are regulated nationally by the NCC, state governments play a crucial role in local infrastructure development and should be involved. They also recommended that operators invest in community projects to foster local ownership and reduce infrastructure sabotage.

Joseph Maweni, ICT Director of Taraba State, noted that insufficient information on fiber infrastructure has led to issues, particularly with road construction causing fiber cuts.

The meeting concluded with a call for standardized practices and improved engagement between state governments and operators. The NCC reported progress in reducing RoW costs in several states, including Adamawa, Taraba, Katsina, Kaduna, Abia, Anambra, Nasarawa, and Edo.