A man who climbed an electricity transmission tower in Lagos survived for three hours before he was persuaded to come down.

A report this morning in Sunday PUNCH said the incident took place on Friday at Powerline Street, Calvary Bus Stop in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area.

The report said that the unidentified man wandered around the vicinity in the early hours of the day before stopping at the foot of the tower at about 2pm.

"Eyewitnesses said he removed some totems tied to the tower by a vigilance group and mounted it to the top despite warnings from residents and passers-by," the report said.

It quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the man was sane. While some suspected that it was a suicide attempt, others saw it as a publicity stunt.

There was apparently no power supply as at the time, which explains why the man was not electrocuted.

•Photo shows power station.