It is cheaper to transport internet bandwidth from Lagos to Canada than to many parts of northern Nigeria, highlighting how inconsistent state policies and hidden charges are slowing broadband expansion and deepening the country’s digital divide, industry stakeholders said on Thursday.
Speaking at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference in Lagos, telecom and technology leaders said multiple taxation, high right-of-way costs and policy inconsistencies across states have become some of the biggest barriers to affordable internet access despite federal efforts to expand digital infrastructure.
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The conference, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation,” brought together policymakers, technology companies, regulators and industry experts to examine how Nigeria can improve its global competitiveness through innovation.
Ajibola Olude, secretary of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said infrastructure deployment remains unnecessarily expensive because many states impose additional charges even after declaring right-of-way approvals free.
“When we talk about right-of-way limitations, it affects the cost of providing services in some states. Some states say right of way is free, but when they give you free right of way, they introduce development charges, education levies, infrastructure fees and several other costs. All of that makes a mess of the so-called free right of way,” Olude said.
He said the result is that moving internet capacity across Nigeria has become more expensive than transporting it internationally.
“It is cheaper to move bandwidth from Lagos to Canada than from Lagos to some parts of northern Nigeria,” he said, calling for harmonised policies across all states to reduce deployment costs and improve broadband access.
His comments reflect one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s digital economy. While the Federal Government has adopted policies aimed at accelerating broadband penetration and reducing right-of-way costs, implementation varies widely across states, forcing operators to contend with multiple permits and unexpected levies that increase network rollout costs.
Olude said Nigeria cannot achieve universal broadband coverage without greater collaboration between federal and state governments.
Ayobami Oduwole of Systems Specs said policies should encourage innovation across businesses of every size rather than concentrating benefits among large operators.
According to him, smaller technology companies also play an important role in expanding Nigeria’s digital economy and should have equal opportunities to grow.
He added that engagement between regulators and industry players has improved in recent years but said more inclusive policymaking is needed.
Olukayode Joseph, head of pre-sales at Quomodo Systems, said innovation should begin at the grassroots by exposing young Nigerians to science and technology from an early age.
“Our belief is that by helping children think broadly about innovation from primary and secondary school, they will be better prepared to seize opportunities in the future,” he said.
Joseph said innovative talents exist in every community, including rural villages, but many lack exposure and support to develop commercially viable solutions.
He also urged government and the private sector to invest more in cybersecurity skills, arguing that young Nigerians involved in cybercrime should be redirected into legitimate careers where their technical abilities can be harnessed.
“We don’t just rely on experts from overseas. We develop local talent by bringing in interns from schools and training them in cybersecurity. We need programmes that rehabilitate young cyber offenders instead of simply putting them in prison. We should find ways to retain and develop their talents,” he said.
Adeshina Adewole, chairman of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Lagos Chapter, said Nigeria’s ambition to become globally competitive in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies must start with basic education.
“If Nigeria is going to be globally competitive, we must start from primary school. We need to introduce coding, robotics and innovation clubs early. Our schools should not be centres for examinations alone; they should become centres for innovation,” Adewole said.
He said Lagos had already launched an AI university portal designed to build a talent pipeline from primary school through tertiary education.
Panelists also warned that excessive regulation could discourage innovation at a time when Nigeria is considering new rules for artificial intelligence.
They argued that regulators should work closely with industry players to develop balanced policies that protect consumers without slowing technological progress.
The conference also highlighted affordability as another major obstacle to digital inclusion.
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Some speakers called on the federal government to introduce targeted subsidies that would reduce the cost of smartphones and digital devices, arguing that access to affordable devices is as important as expanding broadband infrastructure.
Others said Nigeria’s competitiveness would remain constrained unless reliable electricity accompanies internet expansion.
NITRA chairman Chike Onwuegbuchi said the conference was designed to generate practical recommendations that would strengthen scientific innovation and accelerate grassroots digital development.
The discussions underscored a growing consensus across the ICT industry that Nigeria’s biggest challenge is no longer the availability of technology, but creating a predictable policy environment that allows infrastructure investments to reach underserved communities at affordable prices.
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