The Lagos State Government has given owners of communications masts made of hollow-pipes till April 30, 2014, to replace them with galvanised steel masts, as the state is set to commence dismantling and evacuation of hollow-pipe masts, which have become death traps to Lagos residents.
The general manager, Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU), Mr Joe Igbokwe, issued the deadline after an early morning rainstorm last Sunday which pulled down several communication masts, which destroyed buildings and cars worth billions of naira.
Igbokwe listed operators, whose masts caused havoc in Lagos last Sunday as MTN, Visafone, Reltel, Union Bank, Addoser Microfinance Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, Brain & Brace Security and 14 other operators that were detected immediately after the windstorm.
Areas mostly affected were Gbagada, Ojuelegba, Kirikiri in Apapa, Apapa-Oshodi Express Way, Ilupeju, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Surulere and Alaba International Market.
Although no life was lost in the latest incident, the torrential rainfall, accompanied by heavy windstorms brought down trees and mostly hollow-pipe masts belonging to telecommunications companies and banks. Giving details of the damage, Igbokwe, said the havoc would have been more, if not for the timely intervention of UFRU in sensitising masts owners to evacuate all hollow-pipe masts and to replace them with galvanised steel masts.
According to him, the agency had in the past dismantled several masts belonging to banks and insurance companies that were threats to lives and property in the state.
