LASIMRA Reiterates Support to Telcos, ISPs, Others

The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance &Regulatory Agency (LASMIRA) has re-emphasised its unflinching support to the success of telecommunication operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other operators in the telecoms space.

Mr. Babajide Odekunle, general manager of LASMIRA who was speaking recently at NITRA seminar in Lagos on ‘The Impact of Over-Regulation of the Telecommunications Industry on Service Delivery’, said that the Agency has been a fore runner in promoting ease of doing business in Lagos State as issues of over regulation or multiplicity of taxes, levies and charges are completely eliminated.

Odekunle, who was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Adekunle, head of Commercial at the Agency said that the theme of the seminar was apt, especially at the critical junction in the life of the nation, when other sectors of the economy must be unbundled in order to diversify our economic base as a country.

“The telecommunications industry,” he said, “has witnessed phenomenal growth since the licensing of the GSM Operators in February 2001. Recent figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 shows a contribution of 9.8 % to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector enjoys a subscriber base of 83 million which is 45 per cent of the population. The Sector has also created platforms for robust provision of service delivery in the areas of Financial Services, Education, Health-Care, Transportation, E-Commerce, Information and Logistics & Supply Chain Management.

“In terms of Regulation of the Sector, the Nigerian Communication Commission established in 1992 via the NCC Act as amended. In almost a quarter of century of it's existence the NCC has placed the telecommunications industry as a pathfinder in the continent.

“In our unique case in Lagos State, the Government established the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulation Agency (LASIMRA  in 2004 under the Laws of Lagos State No 23 Volume 37 of 27th August , 2004 in order to ensure a one stop agency for all issues regarding utility infrastructure ranging from Water, Gas, Power and Telecommunications.

“This mandate ranges from conception, project management, development and maintenance of all such infrastructure in order to ensure orderly urban development.

“This Agency has been a fore runner in promoting ease of doing business in Lagos State as issues of over regulation or multiplicity of taxes, levies and charges are completely eliminated. None of our 57 LGAs & LCDAs is involved in cases of illegal collection of LASIMRA Fees and Levies”.

He said that the Agency facilitates registration, enumeration, regulation, issuance of permits in the areas of broad band deployments, erection and installation of masts and towers, security and   post - project management activities within the geographical boundaries of Lagos State. “We coordinate Inter-Agency cooperation with relevant Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs) in the State on behalf of Operators in the State.

“Under my leadership, LASIMRA has engaged with the NCC in order to ensure that support is given to operations in the areas of infrastructural deployment and service delivery to all stakeholders.

“It is on record that in 12 months that I have led the Agency, no Base Transceiver Station has been shut despite huge debts incurred by some operators in the State.

“The State was the first sub-national to execute and implement National Broadband Policy in order to accelerate rapid deployment of broad band in the country.

“Our Regulations at LASIMRA are governed by transparency, ability to pay, ease of payment and clearly defined permits and administrative charges.

“Our model in Lagos State has spurred other states to commence the process of creating similar agencies”.

Odekunle added that as a Chief Regulator in the Utility Infrastructure space in Lagos, the goal is partnership with all stakeholders which are, the citizens of the state, communities, companies under LASMIRA’s supervision and the Government.

“It is a partnership that we value and cherish, it is partnership that must work in order to preserve and protect our communities in order for our companies to engender sustainable growth, while ensuring that Government continues in its role of ensuring an orderly urban environment for life and business to thrive”, he said.