The Precautionary Approach to the Installation of Telecommunication Masts in Residential Areas in Nigeria: A Legal Response

Authors

  • Muhammad Kamaldeen Imam-Tamim c/o Postgraduate Unit, Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia.
  • Oluwadamilola Oyeyipo Lofty Heights Law Firm, Ilorin, Nigeria.
  • Yahaya A. Alajo Alajo & Associates, Ilorin, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v24i1.213

Keywords:

Precautionary approach, environmental law, telecommunication installations, electromagnetic field radiation, environmental pollution

Abstract

The advent of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) in Nigeria has brought immense advantages to the social and economic activities in the country. Despite the various advantages, the installation of telecommunication masts and base stations in residential areas has led to anxieties, fears and debates about the possible adverse effects on human health as well as security of properties. Instead of addressing the fears, the telecommunication companies continue to install telecommunication masts and base stations in the residential areas unabated. The article assesses the impact of these installations on health and properties of the residents in order to consider the reality of the fears and examines Nigerian laws to find out whether there are regulations that control how telecommunication masts are to be installed in residential areas to prevent health and property threat to the inhabitants. The article employs both doctrinal and non-doctrinal approaches of the qualitative legal research method by analysing legal and relevant texts and by conducting site surveys as well as unstructured interviews with residents who live near telecom masts.

Downloads

Published

2016-06-23

How to Cite

Imam-Tamim, M. K., Oyeyipo, O., & Alajo, Y. A. (2016). The Precautionary Approach to the Installation of Telecommunication Masts in Residential Areas in Nigeria: A Legal Response. IIUM Law Journal, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v24i1.213

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 1 (2016): Vol 24 No 1 (2016)

Section

ARTICLES

License

  1. Consent to publish: The Author(s) undertakes that the article named above is original and consents that the IIUM Press publishes it.
  2. Previous publication: The Author(s) guarantees that the article named above has not been published before in any form, that it is not concurrently submitted to another publication, and that it does not infringe anyone’s copyright. The Author(s) holds the IIUM Press and Editors of IIUM Law Journal harmless against all copyright claims.
  3. Transfer of copyright: The Author(s) hereby transfers the copyright of the article to the IIUM Press, which shall have the exclusive and unlimited right to publish the article in any form, including on electronic media. The Journal in turn grants the Author(s) the right to reproduce the article for educational and scientific purposes, provided the written consent of the Publisher is obtained.