Lagos sets new rule for communication masts

THE Lagos State government has come up with a new set of standards for the installation of communications masts in the state.

However, the new standards will not affect telecommunications firms, which are the highest users of masts in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

According to Lagos government, the telecommunications firms were not affected because they have since been building and erecting masts to international standards, using the approved specifications and quality of steel materials.

But those mainly affected by the new masts installation standards in the state are the banks, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are using communication masts for their businesses.

General Manager, Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU), Mr. Joe Igbokwe, at the weekend in Lagos said all communication masts in the state must be erected with galvanised steel materials and must be between 30 metres and 50 metres high.

UFRU is the Lagos Government Agency, under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development that is responsible for the regulation of masts installation in the state.

The galvanised steel material, according to Igbokwe replaces the hollow pipes that were hitherto used by banks and ISPs in installing masts in the state.

Igbokwe said the new standards became imperative, owing to the coastal nature of Lagos, coupled with the global climate change.

According to him, the state government had since discovered that hollow pipes have little resistance to strong wind and other weather conditions like rain and sun, thus giving way easily to the slightest wind, which he said had resulted in collapse of several masts that have killed several people and destroyed property worth billions of naira in the state.

“All hollow pipe type of masts must be removed and replaced with galvanised steel that has the shape of a pyramid. We will not accept re-painting of masts, but a complete evacuation of hollow pipe masts, and the evacuation must start now,” Igbokwe told bank officials at a meeting organised by UFRU in Lagos recently.

Igbokwe said banks and every other organisation that have hollow type masts, were given up till December this year to complete the evacuation of hollow type masts.

Banks are expected to seek approval from UFRU before embarking on the installation of galvanised steel masts.

On the cost for approval, Igbokwe said permit for the installation of new masts is N400, 000 per mast, while permit for replacement of existing masts cost N200, 000 per mast, but that yearly levy for masts supervision remained at N100, 000.

The URFU boss, who frowned at the negligence of banks in mast installation, said most banks in the state will use up all their landed space to erect bank buildings, without creating enough space for mast installation.

He said all that must stop and that those who have formed the habit of installing masts antennae in building tops must first seek permit to enable UFRU determine the strength of the building before giving approval for such installation.

A bank suggested an alternative of masts where banks could collocate with telecoms operators on fibre connectivity, but Igbokwe said there were lots of fibre cables being laid in Lagos and UFRU gave the permit to do so, insisting that such alternative arrangement is possible.

The banks, however, complained of multiple taxes from government and asked UFRU to clearly state why they should be subjected to the same levy by different government agencies.

On the issue of multiple taxes, Igbokwe said government has streamlined its levies, and that once payment is made to UFRU and receipted for, the banks and other masts users would not be subjected to further payment by any other government agency, provided the operator has proof of payment from UFRU.

( The guardian)