Agency seals MTN base station
The National
Environmental Standards, Regulations and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) on
Monday in Abuja sealed a base station belonging to MTN Nigeria, located
at N0 2, Oyo Street, Area II, Garki.
Speaking to
journalists after the exercise, Timothy Okeowo, the Director,
Administration and Finance, of the agency said the action became
necessary after several complaints by residents of the area.
Mr Okeowo said that residents had complained about noise pollution which disturbs their sleep and other environmental hazards.
“People complained
and we wrote to MTN and they did not show any interest. That is why we
are here to enforce the provision of the law. We gave them up till
August 23 to submit their audited Environmental Impact Assessment
Report. As we are talking, they have not done anything concerning the
issue.
“We cannot sit down and fold our hands and let people suffer, the director said.
Bola Odugbesan,
the Director, Legal Services of the agency, also said that the exercise
marked the beginning of a clampdown on base stations of
telecommunications operators that had not complied with the deadline.
“The agency does not give deadlines and go to sleep; the clampdown has taken effect from today,” he said.
The agency has been having problems with telecommunications
operators over the location of masts and base station in residential
areas without an environmental impact assessment report.
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