Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for accelerated deployment of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) infrastructure, saying robust broadband connectivity is critical to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a one trillion-dollar economy.
Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, made the call while delivering a keynote address at the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) High-Level Industry Forum on FTTH in Lagos.
Maida said that although demand for high-speed internet continues to rise due to the growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, streaming services and digital businesses, fixed fibre broadband remains significantly underdeveloped in Nigeria.
According to him, the country currently has about 265,000 active FTTH subscriptions, a penetration level below the African average of 2.5 per cent and far behind the 47 per cent average recorded in more mature broadband markets.
“This low base should not discourage us. It should focus us.
“It shows the scale of the opportunity before Nigeria and reinforces the need to create the right conditions for fibre infrastructure to expand more rapidly, more sustainably and more widely across the country,” he said.
Maida said fibre infrastructure provides the speed, resilience and scalability required to support increasingly data-intensive applications and future technology upgrades.
He added that improved broadband infrastructure would enhance business competitiveness, expand digital services, improve productivity and attract greater investment into the country’s digital economy.
The NCC boss disclosed that the commission is conducting a Wholesale Fixed Broadband Market Assessment to evaluate competition in the wholesale broadband segment and identify measures to encourage infrastructure investment.
He said the assessment would also promote infrastructure sharing, strengthen open access models and improve affordability for consumers.
Maida renewed the commission’s call on state governments to remove barriers to fibre deployment, identifying Right of Way (RoW) approvals as one of the major obstacles to broadband expansion.
He said excessive RoW charges, prolonged approval timelines and multiple permitting requirements continue to increase deployment costs and delay network rollout.
According to him, 13 states have completely waived Right of Way charges, while 16 others have adopted the National Economic Council’s recommended rate of N145 per linear metre.
He said the commission would continue engaging the remaining states to eliminate impediments to broadband investment.
The NCC also disclosed that it had launched an Ease of Doing Business Portal to provide investors and network operators with state-by-state information on Right of Way charges, approval procedures and regulatory requirements.
Maida urged governments, property developers and urban planners to incorporate telecommunications infrastructure into the design of new residential and commercial developments.
He also stressed the need to enforce technical and safety standards in fibre deployment projects, warning that poor installation practices and substandard materials could lead to service disruptions and increased maintenance costs.
“Our priority is not simply that fibre is deployed quickly, but that it is built to last and capable of supporting Nigeria’s digital ambitions for decades to come,” he said.
