Uproar over plans to pull down base stations

Earlier last week, Nama directed some mast owners to remove such structures lest it engaged the services of Sea Electrical and Computer Services to dismantling the masts if they were not brought down within four weeks.

Nama alleged these posed a danger to air navigation security.
However, while mobile network operators remained mum on such plans, they have not been received well by subscribers.

“It is unfortunate that Nama just realised that some masts have suddenly become a threat to air navigation.
“Where was the agency when those masts were been erected?

“We are complaining that telecoms services are bad and now Nama wants to compound the problem. This is bad,” said Tunji Adeyemi, a business owner in Ikeja.
Adeyemi said Nama’s threat was “ill timed and suspicious”.

“I think this is just a ploy to get attention and possibly make money from mast owners in the name of fines,” he said.
Another subscriber, Bisi Olaleye, urged dialogue between Nama and the operators.

“If Nama suddenly wakes up to discharge their responsibility of enhancing air safety, it should do so with utmost diligence, due process and wide consultation,”he said.
He dismantling telecoms masts would eventually affect communication in the country.

“Nama should rather engage in dialogue with the mast owners and find better ways to resolve the matter,” said Olaleye.
The order to remove their masts could not have come at a worse time for the telecoms companies. Their masts suffer widespread vandalism by insurgents. – CAJ News.