Lagos Dangles Sanctions Over ISPs As November 9 Deadline Looms For Unsafe Cables

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating in parts of Lagos State face possible regulatory sanctions as the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) moves to enforce compliance with telecommunications infrastructure maintenance requirements.

The agency has directed affected operators to remove, rearrange and properly secure poorly maintained cables ahead of an enforcement exercise scheduled to commence on Monday, November 9, 2026.

In a notice dated November 2 and signed by its General Manager, Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi, LASIMRA identified Ilasan and Ikate in Lekki, Allen Avenue in Ikeja, and the Customs Office vicinity off Toyin Street, Ikeja, as areas covered by the directive.

The agency ordered service providers to ensure that fibre-optic cables and associated installations are properly arranged, firmly secured and cleared of obstructions and environmental nuisances.

The directive targets indiscriminate cable deployment, including loose and dangling wires suspended across buildings, poles and fences, which can undermine public safety, damage property and create environmental hazards.

LASIMRA warned that enforcement teams would commence operations immediately after the deadline, cautioning that operators who fail to comply risk sanctions.

Although the agency has not disclosed the specific penalties for non-compliance, the November 9 deadline places affected providers under immediate pressure to inspect their installations, identify defective infrastructure and complete necessary remedial work.

The intervention forms part of Lagos State’s broader effort to improve infrastructure management, public safety and environmental standards.

It also reinforces the compliance obligations of telecommunications operators, who must ensure that network expansion and maintenance activities meet applicable state infrastructure requirements alongside federal telecommunications regulations.

The enforcement exercise follows an earlier pilot cleanup initiative involving LASIMRA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and industry stakeholders.

The effectiveness of the latest directive will depend on sustained inspections, transparent enforcement and consistent compliance monitoring beyond the deadline.