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Tag: LASIMRA

  • LASIMRA reads riot act to firms engaging in illegal digging

    LASIMRA reads riot act to firms engaging in illegal digging

    The Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Mr Oyekanmi Elegushi, has vowed to prosecute individuals and firms engaging in indiscriminate digging of the ground without seeking approvals from the regulatory agencies.

    At a parley with some journalists in Ikeja, Elegushi said there have been several reports that some of some firms indulge in installation of their infrastructure without receiving necessary permits.

    He reminded the public that LASIMRA is an agency that is saddled with the responsibility of regulating and maintaining utility infrastructure, such as telecommunications companies’ fibre cables and other installations across public spaces within the geographical boundary of the state.

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    He said the agency has been meeting with some government ministries and agencies to sensitise them on activities of some companies that fell under their jurisdictions and why LASIMRA will take action against them

    He said: “What we are doing now is that we are clamping down seriously on illegal digging, and a stakeholders’ meeting will happen sometime this year. We are a no-nonsense regime where things are done properly and where lawlessness will become a thing of the past. What belongs to the government will be given to it and will not be going into private individual accounts, especially some of these DisCos.

  • We didn’t approve mast on collapsed building – LASIMRA

    We didn’t approve mast on collapsed building – LASIMRA

    • Agency condemns illegal installations, to commence audit

    The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) on Thursday said it never gave approval for the installation of a telecommunication  mast at the rooftop of the four-storey building that collapsed Tuesday afternoon.

    LASIMRA’s General Manager, Jide Odekunle stated this during an interview with The Nation at the agency’s headquarters in Agidingbi, Ikeja.

    Noting that the mast was installed two weeks ago, Odekunle said the last approval LASIMRA gave for the installation of mast was four months ago.
    He said they have commenced investigation to ascertain the owners of the mast, adding that they would face necessary sanctions when unmasked.
    According to Odukunle, the agency within two months, derigged 91 illegal or abandoned masts within Ikeja, adding that plans for utility infrastructure audit across the state were underway.

    He said: “That mast was illegal. It is not in our database, which means the owners did not even write us for permit. Besides, there is no way we wouldn’t given an approval for a mast on that building which was already defective.

    “From our findings, the building was built about 35 years ago and it was already weak before the mast was placed on it. The last approval we issued for mast was four months ago.

    “We have identified the type of mast that is. We understand that the people who went for the installation said they wanted to use it for CCTV surveillance. Different companies for masts. For now, we cannot say the particular company or contractor that has that one but we are investigating.

    “As of Tuesday, the mast was not carrying any traffic. It has not been powered because the residents refused the mounting of an industrial generator to power it. So, it is difficult at the moment to know the network operator but we will definitely get to the root of it.

    “We heard the owner of the building has fled. Someone was collecting money for the installations. Like I told you, we are investigating all these issues.

    “A lot of criminal activities go on with the stakeholders. We keep calling and telling them. As a matter of fact, in the last two months, we have embarked on derigging abandoned and substandard masts.

     

    “We started from Ikeja metropolis. We derigged about 91 that were substandard in Ikeja alone. The masts lacked specifications that we expected. From Ikeja, we shifted attention to Etiosa, where we have also been derigging in the past two weeks.

    “The issue is, once we discover one that is substandard, nobody claims ownership of it. Since safety of residents is paramount to us, we quickly derig. We have been appealing to stakeholders to apply for permits and follow due process.

    “We do not just issue permits, we also regulate utility infrastructure such as mast towels and underground cables. People are not allowed to put masts any how. There are standard procedures that most be followed and specifications that must be met that it why LASIMRA has to be carried along from start to finish.

    “For masts on the ground, we test the soil specification, height of the mast and diameter to be sure it is okay and the community has to accept it, otherwise, we would not approve. Then, for rooftops, we conduct integrity test of the building, check the diameter.

    “These things happen especially in places like Ojo. Developers go to operators to market their structures once they finish construction and collect money.

    “We have been appealing to the public to contact the agency once they see anything they are not comfortable with. Once they see any installation going on and there is no approval permit from LASIMRA, they should contact us. We usually paste notices on installations we approve and we state the contractor, duration of the project and every other important detail for people around to see.

    “We are expanding our monitoring unit. We want to have branches at Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe because aside endangering lives, these illegal installations are robbing the state of revenue. That notwithstanding, Lagosians have to assist us in monitoring as well.”

    Asked if it was safe to install masts on residential buildings, Odekunle answered in the affirmative, noting that it was recommended global best practice since the height of the structures were far above human heights.

    He said: “There is no harm with rooftop mast installation. It is the recommended method globally. The fear about emission of radioactive materials to harm occupants is unfounded because the rooftop masts are way above human height. What should be of concern to us are oil spillage from generators we place on the floor, which penetrate the ground and get to water levels.

  • LASIMRA highlights dangers of illegal cables

    The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), has highlighted the dangers illicit cables constitute to the environment.

    The agency in a statement explained that this issue, on-going utility infrastructure audit and the proposed Unified Duct System will be the focus of the one-day stakeholders’ forum scheduled for December 21, at the Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

    “It is designed to further enlighten stakeholders on these issues. The audit is aimed at having an up- to- date database for existing utilities network infrastructure by reviewing all underground cables/telecoms infrastructure in the state. It will also identify non-compliant infrastructure for removal to ensure orderly urban development and strict compliance with relevant standards; to guarantee public health/safety and environmental protection in line with the Mega City status of the state,” the statement added.

  • Ambode appoints heads for lotteries, LASIMRA, scholarship boards

    Ambode appoints heads for lotteries, LASIMRA, scholarship boards

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the appointment of Mr. Seun Anibaba as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lagos State Lotteries Board.

    Anibaba graduated from the University of Oklahoma and the New York University, both in the United States of America, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

    He began his working experience with Merrill Lynch Corporate Audit and Global Lending as an intern before his elevation as Vice President of the Bank of America, Merrill Lynch Corporate Audit.

    Anibaba replaces Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila who was named the new General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA).

    Besides, Governor Ambode also approved the appointment of Mr. Steve Oshinowo as the new Secretary of the Lagos State Scholarship Board.

  • Minister, LASIMRA chief push for lower call tariff

    Minister, LASIMRA chief push for lower call tariff

    The Minister for Communications, Adebayo Shittu has identified the resolution of the issue of the Right of Way (RoW) as most critical among the three tiers of government and advocated the active involvement and participation of all the stakeholders to dialogue on the modalities for harmonising the tariff charges.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit by the General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Mr. Babajide Odekunle and his team to the minister’s office in Abuja, he said there is need to push for drastic actions on the adoption of a particular tariff such that the common man can have access, get the best services and be able to afford the call rate because the telecom operators would indirectly shift the levies back to the consumers.

    He pledged the readiness of the Federal Government to collaborate with all the stakeholders in the industry and do whatever that could be done to ensure a new lease of life for the consumers. He urged the consumers to see the telecom operators as benefactors and that the costs of diesel to power the generators and other financial implication in maintaining the industry are possibly some of the considerations responsible for the call rate that could not be compared to what is obtainable in other climes.

    Speaking on the occasion, Odekunle congratulated Shittu and said the giant stride made in less than 100 days in office of the minister was highly commendable. He told the minister that the agency has the responsibility for the regulation and maintenance of telecom infrastructure in Lagos and its portfolio also covers the granting of RoWs for underground cable laying in the metropolis.

    He reaffirmed the support of Lagos State government to the National Broadband Plan of the government, adding that the benefits of the plan are critical to economic development in increasing internet penetration, boosting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) capacities and reducing unemployment rate.

  • Telcos must comply with standards, says LASIMRA chief

    The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) yesterday said it will not allow telcos and financial institutions to breach standards in the provision of telecoms infrastructure in the state.

    Its General Manager, Mr. Babajide Odekunle, who spoke in Lagos said the agency is committed to ensuring adherence to regulation by telcos and financial institutions in the provision of communication infrastructure and utility providers in the state.

    Odekunle said the era of impunity by service providers in the areas of the use of substandard materials in erecting communication infrastructure and delay in completion of approved works on major roads by contractors is gone.

    He said the agency will hold a meeting with all stakeholders in the industry before the end of the year with a viewing to moving the state forward, adding that an enumeration exercise of all communications infrastructure will also be undertaken.

    In identifying with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to make governance responsive, the agency gave out 09081154716 and 08162667719 as dedicated lines for the public to reach out for enquiries and report any attempt to lay cables on / under any road in the state.