Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Telcos express serious fear, worry over damage of cables

While the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway advances, telecommunication firms are beginning to express concern over possible cable damage that can lead to connectivity disruptions.

The highway corridor is a major landing point for multiple submarine cables linking Nigeria to Europe.

These cables include the West Africa Cable System (WACS), MainOne, Glo1, ACE, and NCSCS.

Speaking on the crucial issue, the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, on Sunday, May 5, stressed the need for stakeholder consultations with the Ministry of Works to address potential risks and implement sustainable mitigation measures. Adebayo, during an interview with newsmen, confirmed that the ministry had yet to engage the telcos on environmental impact assessment, adding that the minister, Dave Umahi, engaged some stakeholders but excluded telecom operators. The ALTON boss said: "The Ministry of Works has not approached us, and I’m uns…