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Planning violation: Ogun to shut telecoms masts

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The Ogun State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning has announced plans to shut telecommunication masts, towers and parabolic antennae  erected in all parts of the state without the owners obtaining due approvals.

The Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Mr. Adebayo Fari, said in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Thursday, “A responsible government cannot stand aside and allow the violation of its law to continue without taking appropriate measures to reverse it.

“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 telecommunications antennae, masts and towers on lands and buildings in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is illegal to erect or install masts, towers, base stations and any other structures without a 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 on urban and regional planning, and physical development of the state, including spatial location of infrastructural facilities; issue land use clearance for  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.

The commissioner said further that in pursuant of its powers to monitor the state’s physical development plans, his ministry would embark on a statewide enforcement drive to locate, mark and shut any development, including erection of telecommunication masts, towers, parabolic antennae and any other type of antennae, and similar structures without a written approval from the government.

“The ministry does not regulate telecommunication and associated services, including the granting of licences and frequencies, but it reserves the rights to enforce compliance with the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning Law, 2005, Fari added.

He advised stakeholders in the industry to regularise their installations in the state before September 20 by providing details of the installations, evidence of payment of appropriate fees, approvals obtained, details of installers and contractors as well as an inventory of installations, including generators and power inverters, among others.


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