The government of the United Kingdom and Greenfields Law has sealed a partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to host what it described as National Technical Conference on Right of Way and Site Build Permitting.
According to a statement issued by Osondu C. Nwokoro, Managing Counsel of Greenfields Law and a leading telecommunications policy, law and regulation practitioner, the Technical Conference is part of the UK Government’s Technical Assistance package in advancing policy and regulatory reforms on Right of Way with the aim of promoting inclusive and sustainable digital access in the country.
The conference is scheduled to hold virtually on August 13th, 2020.
At the virtual conference, findings and recommendations from a technical study on Effective Right of Way Administration and Issuance of Planning Permit for Masts and Towers for instituting reforms by state governments and other agencies of government which was commissioned under the UK Government Prosperity Fund’s Digital Access Programme and undertaken by Greenfields Law will be presented to stakeholders.
The study, according to the study consulted widely, obtained and processed information from virtually all segments of the telecommunications industry including service providers, policy advocacy groups, consumer associations, relevant agencies and officials of state governments across the six geo-political zones while also noting best practices around the right of way and site build permitting in other countries.
“The study developed pragmatic policy, legal and regulatory right of way and site build processes which will be recommended at the conference for adoption at all levels of government, to address the long-standing problems around the right of way and site build permitting in Nigeria. It will facilitate digital access and consequently the attainment of the targets of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, 2019 as well as the National Broadband Plan, 2020-2025.
The Minister of communications and digital economy, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, state governors and chief executive officers of telecommunications companies are among the stakeholders expected to participate at the technical conference.
