The Lagos State Government has announced plans to automate the approval process for telecommunication infrastructure projects through a new digital platform, the Telecommunication Infrastructure Regulatory System (TIRS), set to launch in February 2026.
In a statement, Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi, General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), said the initiative will enhance transparency, streamline operations, and ensure all telecom infrastructure projects comply with state regulations and safety standards.
Elegushi explained that TIRS will automate approvals for telecom masts, towers, and right-of-way (RoW) permits for fibre optic cables. The system aims to reduce physical interactions by up to 99 per cent, allowing companies to process applications entirely online. “The implementation of TIRS will improve efficiency, promote accountability, and eliminate delays in the approval process for telecom infrastructure,” Elegushi stated.
According to LASIMRA, all relevant departments have undergone comprehensive training to ensure a smooth transition once the platform goes live. The training covered both the technical and operational aspects of TIRS.
Elegushi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building a sustainable, transparent, and investor-friendly environment for telecom operators and infrastructure providers, adding that the initiative aligns with Lagos State’s broader digital governance agenda.
The move follows LASIMRA’s ongoing efforts to regulate telecom infrastructure more effectively. In previous years, the agency decommissioned over 95 non-compliant masts and towers and identified 20 more for removal after safety inspections linked illegal installations to incidents such as the Massey Street building collapse on Lagos Island.
The agency also launched the Lagos City Mast and Tower Enumeration Project in partnership with ALTON and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in February 2025. The project aims to create a comprehensive database of all communication towers across the state, improving safety monitoring and regulatory oversight.
With TIRS, Lagos is taking another decisive step toward digitalising public service delivery, enhancing infrastructure governance, and reinforcing public trust in the state’s regulatory systems.
