The Lagos State Government has announced plans to automate the approval process for telecommunication infrastructure through a new digital platform, the Telecommunication Infrastructure Regulatory System (TIRS), scheduled to launch in February 2026.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi, General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA).
According to Elegushi, the TIRS platform will streamline the process of securing permits for telecom infrastructure such as masts, towers, and right-of-way for fiber optic cables, while ensuring full compliance with state regulations and standards.
“The implementation of TIRS is expected to significantly enhance transparency and accountability, minimizing human interaction by 99 per cent. Companies will now apply for infrastructure permits online, reducing the need for physical visits,” he said.
Elegushi added that LASIMRA has completed a comprehensive training program for all departments and units to ensure a seamless transition once the system goes live. The training covered both theoretical and practical aspects of the new platform to prepare staff for full-scale deployment.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building a sustainable and investor-friendly environment for telecom operators and infrastructure providers, describing TIRS as part of Lagos State’s broader digital governance and automation strategy.
The initiative follows LASIMRA’s earlier efforts to enforce safety compliance in the sector. A few years ago, the agency decommissioned over 95 illegal or unsafe telecom masts and towers, identifying 20 more for removal after investigations linked unsafe rooftop installations to building collapses, including one fatal incident on Massey Street, Lagos Island.
In January, LASIMRA partnered with the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the Lagos City Mast and Tower Enumeration Project, which began in February 2025 to create a comprehensive database of all communication towers in the state.
The agency says these efforts, combined with the upcoming TIRS rollout, will improve regulatory oversight, strengthen safety compliance, and support Lagos’s ambition to become a fully digital smart city.
