We can’t fix road for them, says spokesperson
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Residents of Emma Ezeiru Street in Satellite Town, Lagos, have accused telecoms firm, Etisalat of nonchalance towards addressing the plight of the community housing one of their masts. The residents, mostly women, came out in their numbers to protest what they called ‘injustice’ by Etisalat in failing to partner with them in providing security and fixing their roads, which is in bad shape.

They alleged that members of the community have been contributing money regularly for security in the community, which also host Etisalat site No. 3432.

Chairman of the Community Development Association in New Site Estate, Oriade Local Council, Chief Taiwo Benjamin, lamented the unconcerned attitude of the firm. “The trucks belonging to their diesel vendors have sunk here several times. They destroy our curvets and the roads and they are not ready to partner the community in the repair of the roads. We are the ones providing security for their facilities; they don’t have any security guard here.”

According to the leader of the women, Mrs. Blessing Ezeiru, “Etisalat should partner us in fixing our road and paying for security, but they have refused all entreaties we made to them. We have been to their office in Banana Island, Ikoyi but they still refused to come to our aid.”

Spokesperson of Etisalat, Chineze Amanfo, who at first told The Guardian that the matter would be referred to their Community Development unit, later said: “The preliminary information at my disposal is that the community made a request in 2014 to support them in fixing their damaged road.

“Our team engaged with them and made an offer, which they refused. The site in question does not belong to Etisalat anymore as site was transferred to IHS shortly after in the same year. We have however escalated the issue to IHS for their immediate attention.”