Ogun plans clampdown on telecom masts

It is believed that some of the national telecommunication service providers will be affected by the new move by the state government which noted that the structures  were erected “indiscriminately all over the state with the attendant risks to lives and property of the good people of Ogun State.“A responsible government cannot stand aside and […]

It is believed that some of the national telecommunication service providers will be affected by the new move by the state government which noted that the structures  were erected “indiscriminately all over the state with the attendant risks to lives and property of the good people of Ogun State.
“A responsible government cannot stand aside and allow the violation of its law to continue without taking appropriate measures to reverse this”, the Commissioner  for Urban and Physical Planning, Alhaji Adebayo Fari said in a statement issued in Abeokuta.
“The government of Ogun State is concerned about the blatant disregard of its planning regulations by cell site developers who have not obtained the requisite permits from the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning before installing urban furniture, including telecommunication antennae, masts and towers on lands and buildings in Ogun State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is illegal to erect or install masts, towers, base stations and any other structures without permit in Ogun State. The Ogun Urban and Regional Planning Law 2005 empowers the Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning to: Implement the state policies for urban and regional planning and physical development of the state, including spatial location of infrastructural facilities; Issue land use clearance on all applications for physical development plans and evaluate the Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, site specific to any installation, including that of telecommunication, masts, towers, antennae etc”, he added.
The commissioner said further that in pursuance of its powers to monitor the state’s physical development plans, his ministry will be embarking on a state-wide enforcement drive to locate, mark and shut down any development, including erection of telecommunication masts, towers, parabolic antennae (VSAT) and any other type of antennae and similar structures carried out without a clearly written approval of the government.
“The ministry does not regulate telecommunication and their associated services, including the granting of licenses and frequencies, but reserves the right to enforce compliance with the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning Law, 2005,” he added.
Fari therefore advised stakeholders in the industry to regularise their installations or the use of such installations sited in the state, urging them to forward before September 20, details of their installations, evidences of payment of appropriate fees, approvals obtained, details of installers and contractors as well as an inventory of installations, including generators, power inverters among other things.