From Isaac Ojo
Government of Anambra State said it has began the implementation of zero charges for Right of Way to allow speedy deployment of broadband infrastructure across the state as it aims to boost digital adoption.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists said waiver by the State was in line with the ‘Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere’ vision of Gov, Prof. Charles Soludo.
He added 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.
Agbata said 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 meter recommended by the National Economic Council in 2020.
He pointed out that the ICT Agency, working in partnership with GICL, has deployed about 200 kilometers of fiber optic cables under the first phase of the Anambra State Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Initiative, targeted at Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Government (MDAs), schools and other clusters.
Agbata said, “Gov 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.
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