Lagos issues final masts warning

LAGOS. – LAGOS has issued a final warning to owners of hollow telecoms masts to pull them down before April 30.
The state’s Urban Regulatory Unit (UFRU) said the extension of the deadline on two occasions now was due to passionate appeals for more time by stakeholders.
The initial deadline was fixed for December last year but was later extended to March 2014 following outcry by banks whose operations were severely affected by the forced pulling down of the mast by UFRU officials.

In its latest warning, UFRU said it would not accept any appeal from hollow mast owners once the current deadline expires.
Head of UFRU, Joe Igbokwe, said that it is unfortunate that most owners of hollow masts in the state are not taking concrete steps to decommission despite series of warnings issued by his agency.

Igbokwe said that since the warning was issued last year, only banks like Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, and WEMA Bank had shown serious commitment to comply with the directive.

He expressed concerns that except the three banks mentioned, other banks, insurance firms, state and federal agencies, ICT companies, oil companies, hotels and other users have ignored the ultimatum to replace their hollow masts.

Igbokwe said that such attitude would no longer be tolerated as his agency was committed to ensuring that Lagos residents did not suffer the hazards of collapsed masts as recorded in the past.

“UFRU has been magnanimous on this issue so far because we do not want to cause disruption to the services of this companies, agencies and organizations.

“As the rainy season approaches, we are giving them till April 30 after which we will commence full decommissioning,” he said.
UFRU executive listed the mandatory specifications for new masts towers to include 30cm-50cm height, 40m/s basic wind speed and 4m antenna loading.

He also said that the towers must be three legged, hot deep galvanised and made up of angular steel profiles with a span leg of between 2m-4m depending on the space of the site. – CAJ News..