National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Telecom companies are expressing worries about the Federal Government’s lack of consultation regarding environmental assessments as work progresses on the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Despite ongoing demolitions in Lagos to speed up highway construction, telecom operators say they haven’t been consulted on potential risks or mitigation measures.
The absence of dialogue with the government has led telcos to advise Hitech Construction, the project’s firm, to be vigilant to prevent damage to critical national infrastructure along the coast.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, emphasized the need for caution while working in the area, noting no consultation has occurred yet.
The coastal corridor of the Lagos-Calabar highway is crucial as a landing site for submarine cables linking Nigeria to Europe, like the West Africa Cable System, MainOne, Glo1, ACE, and NCSCS, vital for international communications and data transmission.
Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, acknowledged no official invitation but mentioned a publication about the government’s invitation for stakeholder consultations.
He stressed proactive engagement to address potential risks and safeguard essential infrastructure.
Emoekpere reassured the public that certain areas along the coastal corridors may not be affected by the highway construction, calming concerns about its impact.
