By JESSICA DOGO

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday in Abuja, says it is seeking a fair, sustainable and transparent pricing framework for fibre infrastructure sharing under Nigeria’s Dig-Once policy.

This is made known by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Nadungu Gagare, at a Stakeholders’ Forum on Developing a Pricing Mechanism and Cost-Based Structure for Sharing Duct Built under the Dig-Once Policy.

The Stakeholders’ Forum was organised by the NCC.

Gagare said the engagement was critical to ensuring that the policy achieved its objectives of accelerating broadband infrastructure deployment and promoting efficient use of national resources.

He said that the forum would provide an opportunity for government, investors, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders to jointly develop a pricing model that balances commercial interests with public good.

“The Dig-Once policy remains one of the government’s strategic interventions for accelerating fibre infrastructure development.

“It will reduce the cost of broadband expansion, prevent unnecessary road excavation and promote efficient use of national resources.

“Its full potential can only be realised when supported by a pricing framework that is transparent, commercially viable, equitable and encourages infrastructure sharing,” he said.

Gagare said digital infrastructure remained central to this administration, adding that it is the foundation for innovation, digital inclusion, economic diversification and national competitiveness.

He said that every kilometre of fibre deployed would help connect more communities, empower businesses, create jobs and expand economic opportunities for Nigerians.

The permanent secretary urged stakeholders to participate actively in the consultation process by providing practical recommendations that would strengthen investor confidence while safeguarding public interest.

He commended the NCC and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working closely with the commission and other stakeholders to ensure that the study’s recommendations translate into policies and implementation strategies that would accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Gagare expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce outcomes capable of strengthening fibre infrastructure development and supporting the country’s broadband expansion agenda.

Earlier, the Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis, NCC, Mr Ayuba Shuaibu, said that its successful implementation would depend heavily on the establishment of a transparent, and economically sound approach to pricing and access for shared duct infrastructure.

Shuaibu said that the Dig-Once initiative was fundamentally aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of network deployment by promoting coordinated civil works and the shared use of underground duct infrastructure.

He, however, said that without a well-defined pricing mechanism, the objectives of efficiency, fairness and investment protection may not be fully realized.

“This study, therefore, seeks to provide a structured and cost-based framework that ensures equitable access while supporting sustainable infrastructure development across the sector.

“This engagement is particularly important. It provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to interrogate the assumptions, models and outputs of the study.

“We expect that your feedback will help refine the proposed framework, ensuring that it is practical, implementable and reflective of the realities within the Nigerian telecommunications landscape,” he said.

The Managing Director of Dimention Data Ltd, Mr Olugbenga Olabiyi, said in spite of the remarkable progress achieved within Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, broadband deployment continues to face significant structural and economic challenges.

Olabiyi, represented by Akpevwe Egbelughe, Lead Solutions Architect and IT Systems and Infrastructure at Dimention Data, said that one of the most persistent challenges was the substantial cost associated with civil engineering works required for fibre deployment.

“The construction of ducts, sub-ducts, conduits, manholes, poles, and associated infrastructure typically constitutes the largest portion of broadband deployment expenditure. This reality has been recognised globally.”

He said that across both developed and emerging markets, passive infrastructure remained the most expensive and least replicable component of broadband deployment.

“Consequently, policymakers and regulators increasingly promote infrastructure sharing as a means of reducing costs, improving efficiency, encouraging investment, and accelerating broadband expansion,” he said. (NAN)

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