By Ismaeel Uthman
Officials of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday visited the hazardous telecom mast at Obalende in Ipetu-Ijesa of Oriade Local Government of the State of Osun.
Some security agents also visited the mast station on Wednesday, it was gathered.
OSUN DEFENDER had, in its previous edition, exclusively reported that the telecom mast allegedly erected by the HIS Towers in the area had been having a devastating effect on the health of occupants of houses and shops around the area.
It was earlier reported that the radiation of the mast, the noise pollution, heat and fumes from the generating set powering it had caused severe damages to the health system of the people.
The mast, which is said to be powering Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) service has also evicted house owners and tenants who could no longer cope with the unhealthy environment and danger posed to their health by it.
The medium gathered that Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, directed officials of the ministry to go to the location of the mast station in Ipetu-Ijesa for assessment report.
According to some residents of the community, about six officials of the NCC came with two Hilux van with equipment to measure the appropriateness of the mast station in the area.
The NCC officials met with the Ajalaye of Ipetu-Ijesa, Oba Adeleke Agunbiade Oke, who lamented the health hazard being caused by the mast on the residents of the community.
It was reliably informed that the NCC officials promised to address the issue as soon as the report is submitted to the minister.
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the presence of the security agents who came for investigation at the mast station prevented some aggrieved indigenes of the town from damaging the mast.
The indigenes, who are family members of a man who died during the construction of the mast station, were said to have been infuriated by wrong information given to the NCC officials that the deceased house had been deserted before the construction of the mast.
According to sources in the area, the security agents, believed to be officers of the State Security Service, calmed down the aggrieved people and assured them that a lasting solution would be found to the matter.