L-R: Prof. Olalekan Yinusa, Executive Director, Policy, Strategy and Research, Nigeria Governors’ Forum; Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Engr. Nadungu Gagare, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; and Dr. Helen Aderibigbe Adeniyi, Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Kogi State, during the 2nd Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on the Study to Develop a Mechanism and Cost-Based Structure for Sharing Ducts Built Under Nigeria’s Dig-Once Policy, held at the NCC Annex Office, Mbora, Abuja on July 8, 2026.
By Peace Udugba
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating broadband infrastructure deployment by advancing the implementation of the Dig Once Policy through the development of a transparent, cost-based framework for sharing underground telecommunications ducts.
The Commission made this known during the Second Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on the Development of a Pricing Mechanism and Cost-Based Structure for Sharing Ducts Built Under the Dig Once Policy, held at the NCC Annex Office in Mbora, Abuja.
The forum brought together representatives of federal and state government agencies, telecommunications operators, infrastructure companies, industry associations, development partners and other key stakeholders to review the interim findings of a consultancy study and provide input toward a fair and sustainable pricing framework for shared duct infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, the NCC’s Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, said the engagement reflected the Commission’s commitment to an open, transparent and inclusive regulatory process that accommodates the interests of infrastructure providers, network operators, public institutions and consumers.
According to him, the proposed framework is designed to encourage infrastructure sharing, improve asset utilisation, reduce the cost of broadband deployment and accelerate the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria.
Shuaibu explained that the study seeks to establish a transparent pricing mechanism for sharing underground ducts installed under the Dig Once Policy, which promotes the installation of telecommunications ducts during road construction and rehabilitation projects to eliminate repeated road excavations for fibre deployment.
“The Commission remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and consultative process. Our objective is to develop a pricing structure that balances the interests of infrastructure providers, access seekers and consumers while encouraging continued investment in broadband infrastructure,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to make constructive and solution-oriented contributions, assuring them that all observations and recommendations would be reviewed and incorporated into the final report to ensure the framework is practical, commercially sustainable and responsive to industry realities.
Delivering the keynote presentation, the Managing Director of Dimension Data Limited, Mr. Olugbenga Olabiyi, described passive infrastructure—including ducts, conduits and manholes—as one of the most capital-intensive aspects of broadband network deployment worldwide.
He noted that infrastructure sharing has become a globally recognised strategy for lowering deployment costs, improving operational efficiency and accelerating broadband expansion.
Olabiyi said Nigeria’s adoption of the Dig Once Policy presents a significant opportunity to improve coordinated infrastructure deployment, minimise unnecessary road excavations, maximise the use of existing infrastructure and expand broadband access across the country.
He stressed that a predictable, transparent and equitable access framework is essential, warning that inconsistent pricing models and unclear access conditions could discourage investment and undermine the objectives of the policy.
According to him, successful implementation of the Dig Once Policy could become one of the most significant infrastructure reforms in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, provided access to shared infrastructure is guided by fairness, transparency, predictability and effective regulatory oversight.
He commended the NCC for initiating the development of a cost-based pricing framework, saying a transparent methodology would boost investor confidence and provide certainty for infrastructure companies, mobile network operators, Internet Service Providers, fibre operators and other participants in the communications ecosystem.
During the forum, stakeholders reviewed the consultancy’s interim findings and made recommendations on the proposed pricing methodology, implementation strategy and cost components.
Discussions focused on ensuring that the framework supports efficient infrastructure deployment while balancing the interests of infrastructure owners, access seekers and consumers.
The stakeholder consultation builds on previous engagements by the Commission and forms part of the NCC’s broader efforts to promote broadband expansion, encourage infrastructure sharing and advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
