By Sidi A. Umar
Sokoto
Residents of Minanata Community in Sokoto-south local of Sokoto state have appealed to the state government to prevail on a telecom firm, Biswal Nigeria Limited, to stop the erection of a mast in the area.
The community made the demand through secretary of the Nakasarin Magaji Peoples’ Progressive Union, Alhaji Bala Suleiman, saying that they were apprehensive that the mast could collapse, kill or maim people and destroy property.
He said the residents of the area were not jealous or envious of the fortunes of the firm, but their objection to the project stemmed from health concerns due to radiation.
Suleiman expressed happiness that the Ministry of Environment had recently issued a stop order on the project to the company.
“So, we want the state government to completely stop the project in the health and socio-economic interest of people of the area,” he said.
Reacting, the spokesman of the firm, Mr Ahmed Ahijo, said the company legally bought the property from its owner, Alhaji Nasiru Hubbare, at N4 million.
He said: “We had also done the Technical site survey while the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will soon be completed, and we have already stopped work. The 2013 Nigeria Communications Act stipulates that a mast can be erected anywhere in Nigeria after approval by the regulatory agencies.
“This had been done in this direction as the NCC gave us an approval and the erection of a base-station has no parameter in terms of building sites in as much as a firm has complied with the regulations.”
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, confirmed that the state government had issued a stop order on the erection of the mast in question.
He said: “We have no mandate to completely stop the erection of such masts as it falls within the purview of the powers of the federal government.
“But the suspension order of the project still subsists pending the conclusion of the EIA and the initiated dialogue between the Minanata community and the firm.”