The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to secure poorly maintained telecommunications cables in parts of the state.
In a notice signed by its general manager, Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi, the agency warned that enforcement would begin on 9 November against operators that fail to comply.
The directive covers selected areas of Lagos, including Ilasan and Ikate in Lekki, Allen Avenue in Ikeja and the Customs Office area off Toyin Street.
According to the agency, providers must rearrange dangling fibre-optic cables, secure loose installations and clear equipment obstructing public spaces.
LASIMRA has not specified the penalties but warned that enforcement teams would begin inspections after the deadline, with non-compliant operators facing sanctions.
The order highlights the challenges of managing the infrastructure underpinning Nigeria's digital economy.
Figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that the country had 110,577km of on-land fibre-optic cables as at December 2024, up 32% from 83,254km a year earlier.
However, the regulator cautioned that the total includes decommissioned, overlapping and redundant routes, meaning it does not represent an equivalent length of usable network.
Poorly secured cables can obstruct roads, create safety hazards and disrupt connectivity. Shared infrastructure also complicates efforts to identify operators responsible for abandoned installations.
The directive also highlights the regulatory overlap between federal and state authorities. While the NCC regulates telecommunications nationwide, Lagos state agencies oversee infrastructure installations and access to public spaces.
ISPs must therefore comply with both federal and state requirements governing permits, cable installations and rights-of-way access.
Compliance will require operators to identify cable ownership, coordinate with property owners, and remove or repair faulty installations.
However, sustained enforcement will determine whether the exercise improves infrastructure standards without slowing fibre-network expansion.
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