Anambra State has made a significant stride in its digital transformation agenda by becoming the first state in the Southeastern region of Nigeria to implement zero charges on Right-of-Way (RoW) per linear meter. This policy waives the per linear meter RoW charges, a notable departure from the N145 per linear meter recommended by the National Economic Council (NEC) in 2020. This move is spearheaded by Governor Charles Soludo, whose 'Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere' vision aims to dismantle barriers to digital access and reverse infrastructure decline within the state.

Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, highlighted Governor Soludo's commitment to deploying modern strategies to foster digital inclusion. He explained that the ICT Agency, in collaboration with GICL, has already deployed approximately 200 kilometers of fibre optic cables during the initial phase of the project. This phase primarily targets Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the government, educational institutions, and various community clusters. The initiative also encompasses the rollout of WiFi Hotspots to government offices, schools, and communities, intending to diversify the state's economy by leveraging digital services for eGovernment, commerce, education, and innovation. The implementation of zero RoW charges is viewed as a foundational step towards building a robust digital economy, attracting crucial investors, innovators, and businesses to Anambra State.

Governor Soludo's determination to transform Anambra State into a digitally driven economy is evident in this broadband drive. Agbata emphasized that without reliable connectivity, many eGovernment programs would remain unattainable. He noted that Anambra State is actively adapting to the rapidly evolving African digital landscape, with the Governor's approval of zero RoW charges stemming from a clear understanding of its immense benefits. The partnership with GICL is expected to provide substantial connectivity capacity, which will significantly advance the state's digital economy agenda, with pilot projects already powering the Governor’s lodge, a local government, and a university.

The issue of equitable Right-of-Way costing has been a long-standing challenge in Nigeria. RoW is essentially a levy paid to state governments for the approval of laying broadband fiber optic cables through their territories. The NEC's 2013 agreement outlined responsibilities for all government tiers to ensure smooth operations and enhance broadband penetration nationwide, setting the RoW fee for telecommunications operators at N145 per meter. However, in 2018, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) called for a review of this Memorandum of Understanding, citing that many state governments had imposed multiple taxes on telecom operators, leading to a decline in quality of service.

A 2020 report revealed that over 14 governors had escalated RoW fees in their states to between N3,000 and N6,000. For instance, the Lagos State Government maintained a charge of N1,500 per linear meter, arguing that the N145 fee suggested by the NEC was merely a recommendation. Such high charges severely impede broadband penetration, as a telecom company paying N145 for RoW could cover 10 kilometers, while at N1,500, it could only cover 1 kilometer for the same cost. Following discussions between the then Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), an agreement was reached to revert RoW charges to N145 per linear meter. To date, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Ekiti, Kwara, and now Anambra State have implemented this reversal, with Anambra going further to implement zero charges.

Beyond the RoW initiative, the Anambra ICT Agency is also actively standardizing the State Government’s Digital Assets. CFA confirmed that the agency has initiated a statewide migration of all government digital assets to a unified internet domain name: www.anambrastate.gov.ng. Previously, under prior administrations, government digital assets were decentralized, utilizing various domain names and servers across the internet. This ongoing migration ensures that most MDAs are now consolidated under the standard anambrastate.gov.ng domain, aligning with Federal Government policies and further enhancing the state's digital infrastructure and governance.