By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), has disclosed that the administration lost about N500m revenue to masts erected without approval in the territory.
The Director, Babagana Adam stated this in an interaction with journalists in Abuja, Thursday.
He said available records with the FCT administration since inception of the department, showed that three thousand and fifty masts in the city had no genuine approval.
The Director said some companies only paid for permit, and refused to pay the processing fee of one million five hundred thousand naira, and went ahead to erect their masts and towers, which he described as an illegal arrangement.
“We have lost about five million naira revenue to illegal masts and towers in the territory.The permit for erecting a mast is N20,000, the processing fee is one million five hundred thousand naira. But many don’t pay, they only pay for the permit and go ahead erecting their masts and towers.
“We discovered this when some communities laid the complaint to the National Assembly, that the sound from the towers was affecting them, and needed to be addressed”.
He revealed that in the Nation’s Capital, Abuja only three hundred and twenty masts and towers had certified approval.
According to him, most of the mobile subscribers only apply without paying the requisite dues.
On measures to be taken against the illegal masts, Adam said necessary steps are taken to ensure that the enforcement didn’t violate human rights.