Lagos state government ready to battle operators over illegal installations

The Lagos state government is heading for a showdown with Telecom operators over illegal and non-approved installation of telecommunication infrastructures in the state.

The General Manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Mr. Babajide Odekunle sounded this warning at a press conference that the agency is declaring a zero-tolerance on the illegal installation of telecommunication infrastructures all over Lagos and would be commencing a statewide regulatory inspection and standards compliance audit of such infrastructures.

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Babajide said that LASIMRA has already commenced removal of illegal installations in some areas of the state “On removal of abandoned and non-compliant masts and towers, so far, we have started the activity around Ikeja and its environs and about 95 masts, towers have been decommissioned'".

In a bid to make sure the de-commissioning exercise is effectively executed, the Agency has set up a task force named “Zero Tolerance On Non-Compliant Mast And Towers In Lagos Island” which is saddled with the responsibility of combing the entire length and breadth of Lagos Island to discover substandard as well as illegal or unpermitted masts, towers,” he stated.

Babajide said this will ensure proper stationing of these infrastructures by mobile network providers. He maintained that the exercise will also allow the agency to develop an extensive database of telecommunications cell sites which will also include towers and masts.

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He added that the audit would establish private utility infrastructure and non-compliant infrastructure. He said the non-compliant infrastructure would be giving time to carry out the due process for compliance before its removal.

LASIMRA also warned that any network service provider caught erecting any infrastructure without proper approval from the agency will be prosecuted.

Lagos state which is Nigeria’s commercial capital hub with an estimated population of 21 million people, has the largest number of telecommunication service subscribers in Nigeria.