Lagos State Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU) on Friday asked banks, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), insurance companies and other firms to immediately replace old hollow pipe telecoms masts in the state and replace them with galvanised steel masts.
This followed the incessant collapse of the old masts in the state at the slightest wind storm, leading to deaths and destruction of properties.
Mr. Joe Igbokwe, head, UFRU, said, “Our deadline for the evacuation of old hollow pipe masts still stands at December 31as we directed few months back.”
Igbokwe also expressed worries that since the directive was first given two months ago, none of the operators had complied, though the state government had since showed good leadership role by evacuating all old hollow pipe masts it was hitherto using.
Commenting on the development, Sunday Folayan, president, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (iSPAN), admitted that there is need as stakeholders to guarantee safety of lives and property of the people.
“We cannot continue to erect masts that are not in accordance to standards. Secondly, when government is making certain policies or giving directives, they should consider the economic impact on the stakeholders involved. Any programme that does not carry stakeholders along, obviously will affect them adversely
“As law abiding citizens we will adhere to the directives. But the need for all parties to be involved in a matter like this is very important,” the ISPAN president said.
Nodding in agreement, Mr. Sam Adeleke’s, immediate past president, ISPAN, who constructed such masts in 1999 in the tone of N800,000, said that for the operators to implement the new rules it will cost nothing less than N2.5 million to replace each mast or tower.
He said: “Well, the directive is timely and we support it, although the masts were constructed when issues like climate change, building collapse and more were not rampant. As we are witnessing it today, redeveloping the masts and towers with solid material will be of help to the society.
On his part, Engineer Anthony Nwosu, vice president, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) said that the directive should not be limited to Lagos State.
According to him, government should expedite action on the regulation of the sector to avoid loss of lives and property in the near future, as majority of the infrastructure are in deplorable conditions.
“The past incidences of collapsed masts and towers especially during heavy rain storms and severe winds as well as the attendant consequences of such collapses might have necessitated the action by Lagos State government to regulate the way and manner these masts are erected. While I see the need to ensure public good and safety by regulating the construction of telecoms masts and towers, there is a bigger issue of who should regulate these telecoms infrastructures between the NCC and the Lagos State UFRU.