NESREA claimed that the telecoms operator's action "violated the environmental impact assessment act of 1992 which says that before any project is sited at all an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be carried out."

NESREA's Kwara Coordinator Jacob F. Ayuba told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital "another violation is the contravention of the setback in the NESREA regulation on telecoms. The setback from the wall to the base station is ten metres to the next wall of a residential building."

The Alalubosa community and the Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (COFDWA) had petitioned the agency over indiscriminate erection of masts in the community alleging fragrant disrespect to environmental laws.

In a petition entitled: "Indiscriminate erection of communication masts," the Alalubosa Layout Residents Association signed by the association's Chairman and Secretary Engineer A.T Aduragba and Prince Isong Iyangudoh respectively frowned at the indiscriminate erection of communication masts in the area.

  Ayuba said, "My team came here and noted some of the environmental concerns and subsequently wrote a letter to the headquarters for further directive.

"Subsequently we continued to receive complaints and we kept on notifying our head office. We wrote the second compliance concern and forwarded it to our head office and a-seven day letter of stop work action was issued to their headquarters in Lagos.

"After the seven days we came here to ensure the directive was comply with unfortunately they ignored our directive.

''We don't have power to take any action rather we reported the development to our head office.

''However, directive came that we should seal off the facility and that is exactly what we are doing now.''

He said the agency had embarked on several enlightenment programmes with telecoms operators.

According to Ayuba, ''From practical observation the setback is less than 2 metres.

''We believe this will serve as a deterrent to others. This year 2012 is year of enforcement. We have had enough of carrot it is time to give stick."