Fear Grips Ikotun Residents Over Airtel’s Upgrade Of OFC

As Airtel Network Ltd upgrades its telecommunications facility in the vicinity of Irebami Unity Community in Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, Alimosho Local Government of Lagos, residents have expressed concerns over the negative effects of the Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) being installed as part of the programme.

The community has therefore requested the telecommunications company to provide an environmental impact assessment and clean health certification report from the appropriate authorities before any form of installation can take place.

 

 

The residents called on the Lagos State Government to look inward in providing social amenities for people of the community.

Speaking against the backdrop of the disagreement with the telecommunications giant, Chairman of the CDA, Prince Noah Odunsi Abiola disclosed that among other challenges which make it impossible for such a project to be executed without necessary certifications from the authorities, the area lacks proper drainage channels, accessible roads, potable water, stable electricity supply.

The chairman explained that one Honourable Mrs Florence Omotayo had raised complaints about the deep pit being dug in front of her residence and its environs, a major issue the executives of the CDA took up with the contractor at site.

 

“The contractor started digging indiscriminately without any prior notification to the residents of the community.

The CDA executive mobilized to the site and noticed that the labourers contracted were just digging unprofessionally without following due regulations. They were digging on proposed drainage channels and on the middle of the road, an act we frowned at.”

According to him, there were no Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) officials on ground to supervise or regulate the activities of the so-called consultant/labourers to the telecommunications company. However, officials of LASIMRA eventually came for a meeting on the 19th of March.

Abiola pointed out that the CDA leaders present registered their displeasure and conveyed the message of the residents who were scared of the health implications of the optic fibre being installed in the community.

Rendering their apology for failing to do first thing first, Abiola explained, officers of LASIMRA promised to write officially to the CDA. He said that despite the notification about their concerns on the project, the state government (LASIMRA) brought a letter on March 25th whose content did not address the clean health certification requested to allay the fears of residents.

“The residents want LASIMRA to be a bit compassionate to allay their fears of the adverse effect the mast radiation may cause to their health.

“The Lagos State government should come to the rescue of the residents of Irebami Unity CDA by providing basic infrastructural developments in the community as the entire area had been completely neglected in times past.

 

 

 

“The Airtel as an organization should also be alive to their corporate Social Responsibility to the community.”

On the indiscriminate digging for the installation of OFC in the neighborhood, Abiola stated that the poor drainage system is an eyesore that must be worked upon by the government.

“We are not kicking against any project that will bring meaningful development to our community but first thing first. We don’t want a situation where the government or any organization should put the cart before the horse.

“For the government to build a smart city as proposed; there must be a particular place as foundation for that smart city. You can’t embark on a smart city where there is no electricity. Now, the infrastructural facility must be well mapped out.

The chairman pointed out that the health and welfare of citizens in the community is paramount and that the community has a masterplan which must be adhered to.

Meanwhile, in a letter dated 9th December 2019 written to the Managing Director, Airtel Network Limited with heading “PERMIT NO: LASIMRA/AIRTEL/NR100032/OFFICIAL PERMIT, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, it was stated: “Having satisfied the statutory conditions, permit has been granted to your organization for the installation of an underground optic fibre covering a total distance of 47, 445 meters in Lagos State.

The letter signed by Engr. Olufunsho Elulade General Manager /CEO, referred to attached details of the area covered by the permit.

“The right of way permit is granted under the following terms and conditions:

“LASIMRA must be given at least 72 hour notice in writing before mobilization to site at all times

“LASIMRA project border must be displayed on site at all times.

“Open trenching is not encouraged within the metropolis but where it is inevitable, the agency must be notified.

“Pre-installation scanning of the routes must be carried out in the presence of LASIMRA to ascertain the presence or otherwise of existing underground infrastructure.

“Installing at high traffic area must be done at of peak period only.

“All excavated areas should be cordoned off by warning tape.

“All reinstatement must be certified by LASIMRA upon compilation completion.

Our correspondent who visited the telecommunication office in Ikoyi could not get responses from officials due to issues bothering on the global coronavirus pandemic.

Attempts to speak with officials from JUS Partner Cosmopolitan Limited, the contactors of the project, proved abortive as their lines were not reachable.

 

 

By Roland Ekama