Seriake Dickson, the Governor of Bayelsa State has indicated that the 50% cut in charge promised telecoms companies forms part of the administration’s plan to become a model ICT State in Nigeria.

The Governor recently pledged a 50% reduction in ROW (right of way) charges and the setting up of a single agency to administer the collection of all taxes and levies in Bayelsa state.

According to Dickson, the state is proud to be selected as a Smart state and will put in place all the necessary measures needed to make Bayelsa a model ICT state in Nigeria.

Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology, who announced the selection of Bayelsa among the Smart States in the country also urged the State Governor to focus on ICT infrastructure development in the state by waiving the ROW charge for two years.

While speaking at the Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum (BSIEF) held recently in Bayelsa State, the CommTech Minister said ROW waiver will make it easy for fibre cables to be built in Bayelsa.

State governments have a role to play in enabling speedy infrastructure deployment, she says adding that to accelerate ICT infrastructure development in Bayelsa, the government needs to reduce multiple taxation.

There is also the need to enable new roads to be built or rehabilitated to have fibre duct infrastructure and also assign a single agency to collect levies, taxes and fees on behalf of the state and protect ICT infrastructure in the state.