Telecom
RoW: Telecom Operators Use Gutters, Trees in Lagos
Investigation has revealed that telecommunications service providers in Lagos State are installing fiber optic cables through gutters and on trees as right of way (RoW), contributing to flooding and other economic losses to the State.
During the investigation, it was discovered that key areas such as, Saka Tinubu St., Kofo Aboyimi St., Saka Tinubu/Akin Adesola St. junction., Ozumba Obamdiwe St., (junction)., Ajose Adeogun St., all on the Victoria Island, Lagos, were the worst hit by the indiscriminate installation of telecoms cables.
It could be recalled that LASMIRA had on February 26, 2016 consulted Critical Infrastructure Services Limited, to conduct the Utility Network Audit which covers the underground utilities network within the geographical boundaries of Lagos State (“affected persons”) and ensure that all utilities providers are in compliance with statutory provisions with regards to all underground communication infrastructures”.
Confirming the report, Mrs. Gloria Ogunbiyi, head of Compliance at Critical Infrastructure Services Ltd, said that in the process of preparing the “As Built Database” of all underground facilities in Lagos, the Company found that several Telecoms Service Providers have had a free ride in Lagos and could have even avoided the payment of right of way to LASIMRA by installing their cables in gutters and drains.
Quality of Service
She advised telecoms service providers to ensure they provide quality services to customers by disconnecting those Cables in gutters, drains and on Trees, paying LASIMRA for right of way, installing their Cables according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards and utilizing duct space provided by Lagos State in several parts of the State to ensure that residents enjoy quality telecom services.
Mrs. Ogunbiyi said, “This is critical because it has been discovered that the poor quality of service experienced by Telecoms Customers is due to Telecoms Network Cables that are installed in these gutters and on trees.
“These installations no doubt do not comply with the global standards set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Nigeria has experienced tremendous growth in the numbers of Telecom subscribers, but this has not been matched by the provision of adequate internationally accepted Networks to match this growth. There are constant dropped calls and slow internet service with key network Cables in gutters, drains and on trees.
According to Mrs. Ogunbiyi, the trend in the sector, if not contained, will have negative impact on the internally generated revenue by the State Government, needed to provide health Care, education, good roads and other dividends of democracy to Residents of the State.
She said, “While conducting the Utility Network Audit in several major streets and roads in Lagos on behalf of LASIMRA, Critical Infrastructure Services Ltd personnel saw key cables on trees and in several gutters and drains illegally installed by telecommunications operators.
“It is amazing that at our stage of development, Telecommunications Service Providers will install Cables on trees and gutters. These are short cuts, probably, to avoid the payment of right of way to Lagos State and no doubt are responsible for poor quality of service.
“We should also see from the point of view that this practice by Telecom Service Providers not only reduces internally generated revenues due to the State but also leads to blocked gutters and drains caused by debris trapped by Cables in these gutters and drains. These Cables in gutters, block the drains and contribute to flooding in Lagos. The State Government has made efforts to provide Cable ducts in all new Roads and these Operators have chosen to install their cables illegally on Trees and in gutters. The economic impact of flooding is enormous to Residents of Lagos State.
“The Cables which were discovered on Trees and in gutters should not be there. These Telecommunications Service Providers have a responsibility to their Customers and the Residents of Lagos State to obtain right of way from LASIMRA, remove their Cables on Trees and in gutters and install them properly.
The CEO added that telecoms service providers as good corporate citizens of Lagos State must support the State by paying for the requisite right of way rather than avoiding the payment of right of way by installing their Cables illegally.
She further explained that LASIMRA focused on delivering its mandate to residents of Lagos State and ensuring that State regulations are adhered to by all Operators, issued more than enough public notices before the exercises commenced.
Mrs. Ogunbiyi said that the final report will soon be submitted to LASMIRA to commence action on how to address the menace, and ensure the operators do not overuse the right of way issued them by the Lagos State Government.
She also confirmed that telecos with requisite right of way have nothing to fear as law abiding corporate citizens of the State.
“Yes, those who are complaint with the law have nothing to fear. In fact, the audit report will even prove them right because they have done the right thing. I think what the Lagos State Government is trying to do is to provide cover for those with right of way to enjoy the investment they have made, while defaulters should retrace their steps by following the required processes,” Mrs. Ogunbiyi reported.
When contacted, Mr. Olusola Teniola, president of the Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ATCON), told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said that several reasons could lead to telcos using gutters as right of ways to lay their cables.
Teniola said, “The issue that cables are laid in gutters are been placed there due to several reasons. One of those reasons is the lack of available proper ducting infrastructure in place and other reason being the right of Way issues and a culture of not sharing duct.
The ATCON President expressed confidence in the leadership of Mr. Babajide Odekunle, general manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance &Regulatory Agency, to help the industry address the problem.
He said, “LASIMRA is going to address the issue of sharing using the proposed Unified Duct System (UDS) to avoid these issues from reoccurring.
Nigeria has exactly 156,662 active fixed wired internet subscriptions as of mid-2026.
This is a tiny fraction compared to mobile GSM networks, which dominate the market with over 154 million subscribers.
The fixed wired market primarily consists of homes and offices using direct physical cables like fiber optics.
Fixed wired services use physical cables, like glass fiber or copper wire, to bring internet directly into a building.
It is like a dedicated, private water pipe for your home. It provides very fast speeds, unlimited data, and is reliable.
In contrast, mobile GSM uses radio waves transmitted from tall towers to phones, acting more like a sprinkler that sprays a signal across an entire neighborhood.
Because laying physical cables across cities is expensive and hard to do, these subscriptions are very rare.
However, the market has seen recent growth, driven largely by Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services.
The top players are: MTN FibreX with 110,564 subscribers, which is roughly 88.7 per cent of the entire market.
SWIFTNG accounts for about 13,945 connections.
The others are ipNX and 21st Century Technologies which make up the number.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it is intensifying efforts to implement Nigeria’s planned 112 national emergency number following its approval by the National Economic Council (NEC).
NCC
The commission disclosed this during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and an NCC delegation led by the Chairman of its Governing Board, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Briefing the Vice President, Olorunnimbe said the NCC had already established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across the country to support a unified national emergency response system.
He said the next phase of implementation would focus on closer collaboration with state governments and emergency response agencies to ensure the effective rollout of the initiative.
The development follows the recent approval by the NEC, chaired by the Vice President, for the adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s single national emergency number across all tiers of government and emergency response agencies.
The council also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee to be jointly coordinated by the Office of the Vice President and the NCC.
Olorunnimbe stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on the commitment of state governments to support and maintain emergency communications infrastructure, as well as the readiness of response agencies to promptly attend to distress calls.
“We need commitment at every level of all response agencies—from top to bottom—including the Nigeria Police Force, ambulance services across the states and, at the national level, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” he said.
Responding, Shettima directed the NCC to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the nationwide implementation of the single emergency number in line with international best practices.
He also urged the commission to work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), citing the agency’s experience in disaster management, relief and rehabilitation.
The Vice President assured the commission of the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining the initiative, saying funding would be mobilised through the National Economic Council and partnerships with the private sector.
He also called for greater dedication from all emergency response agencies to ensure the success of the programme.
The adoption of 112 is expected to harmonise emergency communications across Nigeria by providing a single number through which citizens can quickly access police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services.
The initiative is also expected to replace multiple emergency contact numbers currently in use and improve coordination and response during emergencies.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it was strengthening collaboration with state governments and industry players to develop a transparent, cost-based pricing framework for sharing telecom ducts as part of efforts to speed up broadband expansion across Nigeria.
Ayuba Shuaibu, director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, NCC, disclosed this at the Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja.
Shuaibu said the initiative was designed to build consensus among all parties.
“The primary purpose of this forum is to ensure seamless synergy between the Commission and all stakeholders,” he said.
The director said the consultation was prompted by longstanding complaints over permits, levies and other charges imposed by different levels of government.
He said bringing together state commissioners, telecom operators, tower companies and representatives of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had helped improve understanding of the issues.
“This engagement is a work in progress. We expect more input from stakeholders before presenting the outcome to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum,” he added.
Dr Helen Adeneye, commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Kogi State. welcomed the consultation, saying Nigeria needs a harmonised policy that clearly defines the responsibilities of both the federal and state governments.
“We need a harmonised policy that allows states to collaborate better with telecom operators and creates a more business-friendly environment,” she said.
Dr Adeneye added that adopting the Dig-Once policy would establish a uniform pricing system and help resolve disputes over charges for telecom infrastructure deployment.
Chidi Ajuzie, chief executive officer, WTES Projects Limited, whose firm is conducting the consultancy study, said the proposed framework would introduce a common cost structure for duct sharing to support broadband investment and economic growth.
“The study is designed to create a uniform pricing model that will drive broadband growth, economic development and wider adoption across the country,” he said.
Ajuzie explained that the consultants had developed preliminary floor and ceiling prices to guide operators while allowing flexibility within the approved range.
He added that the recommendations remain open to industry input before the NCC finalises the framework.
The Dig-Once Policy is designed to reduce the cost and disruption of deploying broadband infrastructure by requiring fibre ducts to be installed whenever roads are constructed or rehabilitated.
The NCC is developing a cost-based pricing framework for sharing these ducts to promote fair pricing, reduce duplication of infrastructure and encourage investment.
The proposed model is expected to support the Federal Government’s broadband expansion targets while improving collaboration between telecom operators and state governments.
Court Adjourns Alleged Binance Tax Evasion Case over Settlement Talks
Fixed Wired Internet Market Lags as Mobile Gains Ground
Xenophobic Attacks: OYC Threatens to Picket MTN Nigeria Offices
New NIMC Act Strengthens Data Protection, Privacy – Director
BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting
NASENI Moves to Digitize CCB’s 5m Assets Declaration and Operations
Mobile Internet Gender Gap Widest in Africa – GSMA
Nigeria Launches FreeTV Nationwide
CANAL+ Partners Samsung to Pre-Load DStv Stream on New Samsung TVs In Nigeria, Other African Countries
Lebara Nigeria Launches Lebara Play, Africa’s First Telecom-Owned Micro-Drama Platform
News3 days agoNRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
News3 days agoNSITF Partners South African Insurer on Digital Transformation
E-Financial3 days agoFCT-IRS Unveils New Digital Platform, Taxporta
General News3 days agoKPMG Urges Africa’s Most Innovative Tech Entrepreneurs to Enter the Global Tech Innovator 2026 Competition
E-Business3 days agoFG Suspends New Internet Regulations to Prevent Overlapping Rules
E-Business3 days agoNIN Enrollment Hits over 136m as New ID Law Takes Effect
E-Business3 days agoPlateau PCC Collects Nigerians’ Data without Privacy Policy – FIJ
Telecom2 days agoNCC Seeks Cost-Based Pricing Framework for Ducts