The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned that regulatory bottlenecks, high right of way charges, and infrastructure vandalism continue to pose serious threats to Nigeria’s digital expansion drive.
Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman and chief executive officer of NCC, spoke in Abuja during a training programme organised by the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The programme, hosted at DBI headquarters in the Jabi district of Abuja and sponsored by the European Union (EU) under its global gateway initiative, aims to equip 31 participants drawn from 10 countries across Africa and Europe with critical fibre optic infrastructure skills.
Maida, represented by Sunday Abraham, NCC executive commissioner for technical services, linked ongoing capacity-building efforts to Nigeria’s broader goals of expanding broadband penetration, improving financial inclusion, and enhancing service delivery.
“Robust, well-regulated fibre optic infrastructure is the foundation for any digital transformation agenda,” he said.
The NCC CEO noted that under “Project BRIDGE”, the federal government aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables nationwide to improve connectivity across all 774 LGAs.
Despite this ambition, he said persistent challenges, particularly regulatory constraints and vandalism, continue to slow progress.
“To date, 13 states have waived right of way charges entirely… an action that is already attracting increased investment from operators,” he said.
He added that a 2024 presidential order designating telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure is helping to strengthen asset protection.
David Daser, DBI president and CEO, described the programme as a strategic effort to build a future-ready workforce capable of driving broadband expansion and innovation.
“This programme represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to advance resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital infrastructure across our nations,” Daser said.
“It is not just a training but a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and international collaboration.”
He explained that the training would provide competencies in fibre deployment planning, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure sharing, and stakeholder engagement—skills considered vital to unlocking broadband growth and digital jobs.
Daser added that DBI’s partnership with ITU, through initiatives such as the ITU Academy Training Centre and Digital Transformation Centre, is helping to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive participation in the global digital economy.
Ghazi Mabrouk, ITU project officer, said the programme forms part of the organisation’s broader capacity-building efforts, which deliver over 150 training initiatives annually.
“Your presence reflects a strong commitment to learning and collaboration,” Mabrouk told participants, noting that DBI remains a key partner within ITU’s global network of training centres.
Inga Stefanowicz, head of section for green and digital economy at the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the union’s support for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“At the heart of this effort is the development of fibre optic infrastructure, which remains fundamental to enabling digital transformation,” she said.
She cited the EU’s €820 million digital economy package for Nigeria aimed at supporting digital skills, innovation, and infrastructure expansion.
She stressed the need for strong private sector participation, noting that EU-backed initiatives are designed to mobilise financing, expertise, and sustainable technologies to bridge infrastructure gaps.
