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National Inland Waterway Authority, a federal government agency in-charge of water transport, is demanding N1billion from telecommunications operators as ‘right of way’ for their fibre optic cable that pass through government bridges.
The authority was established by National Inland Waterways Act No 13 of 1997 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, and saddle with responsibility, among other things, to improve and develop inland waterways for navigation.
The agency is also to ensure the development of infrastructural facilities for a national inland waterways network connecting the creeks and the rivers with the economic centres using the river-ports as nodal points for intermodel exchange and the development of indigenous technical and managerial skill to meet the challenges of modern inland waterways transportation.
Shola Adeyemi, Director, Legal & Regulatory Affairs/ Company Secretary, Airtel Nigeria, said that the sum is demanded as right of way fees for fibre optic cables laid within the Federal Government’s Right of Way in Northern States in spite of the fact that similar fees had already been paid to Federal Ministry of Works.
He said that the demand of National Inland Waterways amounts to double taxation and multiple regulations which stakeholders are seeking for government intervention.
