The General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), an agency under the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Olayemi Oni, has made it public that the authority has abolished hollow masts for hot galvanised steel.
LASIMRA is the agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating utility infrastructure in public space in Lagos.
Explaining during a ministerial press briefing to mark Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s three years in office at Alausa, she noted that in order to keep Lagos environment safe and clean, the government has given approval for the dismantling and removal of abandoned, deceptive and substandard communication masts that compromise the safety of residents across the state.
While noting that the measure was to ensure safety and remove environmental hazards, she revealed that LASIMRA has been reaching out to organisations and property owners to ensure they complied with the new mast standards.
Oni said that the agency was working on generating an up to date database of telecommunication companies and facilities as well as ensuring compliance with environmental and safety rules for the overall well-being of residents.
She explained that the agency was interacting with as well as offering the necessary advice to various communications industry stakeholders and other firms, who had assets and facilities that required supervision.
On why Lagos State has approved the total phase out of hollow masts, Oni averred that they were substandard and very susceptible to easy collapse and they have been causing various degrees of accidents that have been compromising the safety of residents.
According to her, the state had removed 16 of the hollow masts and was giving time to some companies, who had written for extension of time to replace the masts with the recommended hot galvanised steel masts.
She disclosed further that “We are targeting the hollow masts; there is particular specification that Lagos State has given.
“When your mast does not meet the standard, we advise the owners to relocate because all these masts have telecommunication equipment on them and then, we do not want to disrupt organisation’s work because they are using it for operations.”