4 arrested with pre-registered SIM cards

Telecommunications service providers in Lagos state have been accused of indiscriminately installing fibre optic cables in gutters and on trees, leading to flooding, compromising service quality and causing economic loss to the state government, the report of a new study commissioned by the state government has shown.
The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Regulatory Agency (LASMIRA) had on February 26, 2016 commissioned a firm, Critical Infrastructure Services Limited, to conduct the Utility Network Audit covering underground utilities network within the geographical boundaries of Lagos State (“affected persons”) and ensure that all utilities providers are in compliance with statutory provisions with regard to all underground communication infrastructures.
Speaking on the report, the CEO of Critical Infrastructure Services Ltd, Mr. Chukwudi Obike Okpara, said in the process of preparing the “As Built Database” of all underground facilities in Lagos, the company found that several telecoms service providers have had a free ride in Lagos and could have even avoided the payment of right of way to LASIMRA by installing their cables in gutters and drains.

He said during investigation, it was discovered that  major areas like Saka Tinubu St., Kofo Aboyimi St., Saka Tinubu/Akin Adesola St. junction., Ozumba Obamdiwe St., (junction)., Ajose Adeogun St., all on Victoria Island, Lagos, were worst affected by the indiscriminate installation of telecoms cables.
He advised carriers to make that they provide quality services to customers by disconnecting the cables in gutters, drains and on trees, pay LASIMRA for right of way, install their cables according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards and utilise the duct space provided by Lagos State government in several parts of the state to ensure that residents enjoy quality telecom services.
Mr. Okpara said: “This is critical because it has been discovered that the poor quality of service experienced by telecoms customers is due to telecoms network cables that are installed in these gutters and on trees.
“These installations no doubt do not comply with the global standards set by ITU. Nigeria has experienced tremendous growth in the numbers of telecom subscribers, but this has not been matched by the provision of adequate internationally accepted networks to match this growth. There are constant dropped calls and slow internet service with key network cables in gutters, drains and on trees.”
According to Mr. Okpara, the trend in the sector, if not contained, will have negative impact on the internally generated revenue of the state government needed to provide health care, education, good roads and other dividends of democracy to residents of the state.