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Lagos regulators have ordered internet service providers to urgently tidy and secure telecommunications infrastructure in selected parts of the state, warning that enforcement action will begin on 9 November.
Areas under notice
The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) issued the directive in a notice dated 2 November and signed by its general manager, Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi.
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It applies to providers operating in and around Ilasan and Ikate in Lekki, Allen Avenue in Ikeja, and the Customs Office area off Toyin Street in Ikeja. Firms must arrange and secure cables and associated equipment, while removing obstructions and installations judged to be environmental nuisances.
LASIMRA said non-compliant operators face sanctions once its enforcement teams begin work. The agency did not publicly specify the form or scale of any penalties in the notice reported by Nigerian media.
A safety and service issue
The order focuses on overhead and other network infrastructure that has become untidy, poorly maintained or hazardous in busy residential and commercial districts. Dangling fibre cables can create risks for pedestrians and road users, while poorly deployed equipment can also be vulnerable to damage and service interruptions.
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For Lagos residents and businesses increasingly dependent on reliable broadband for work, education, payments and trade, the issue goes beyond streetscape. A more orderly network rollout can help protect infrastructure that supports the city’s digital economy, provided enforcement is applied consistently and without unnecessary disruption to connections.
Part of a wider cleanup drive
The latest ultimatum follows a broader telecommunications-infrastructure cleanup campaign launched in May by LASIMRA with support from the Nigerian Communications Commission and industry participation through the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.
That pilot exercise began around Toyin Street in Ikeja and was designed to remove redundant or damaged cables, improve public safety and promote more disciplined infrastructure deployment.
LASIMRA has framed the current action as part of its push for a cleaner, safer and better-regulated Lagos. Providers working in the affected locations now have only days to show that legacy cables and installations have been properly managed before the planned enforcement date.
Why it matters
Lagos is central to Nigeria’s technology and services economy, and dependable connectivity is essential to its residents, Black-owned enterprises and growing digital workforce. The directive tests whether regulators and operators can pair rapid broadband expansion with public safety, environmental order and dependable service.
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The immediate measure is targeted, but its outcome may set a wider standard for how telecoms infrastructure is installed and maintained across Africa’s largest urban economy.