Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has stated his administration’s commitment to improve on the provision of adequate infrastructure to fast-track the Smart City Project to optimize the limitless opportunity of a fully digitized economy.​
The Governor expressed this today at the 3RD Annual Stakeholders Conference of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), themed “Transforming Lagos State into a Smart City Hub in Africa – The Government’s Infrastructure Approach”, held at the​ Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mr. Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted that the bedrock of a functional Smart City is adequate and functional infrastructure.
The Governor was of the opinion that “the theme of the conference expresses our administration’s commitment to the smart city project through the deployment of cutting edge technology to bring about improved and effective governance as well as providing the necessary infrastructure to support widespread application of technology to create opportunities and enhance socio-economic growth”.
He added that one of the key pillars of his administration’s agenda is making Lagos a 21st century economy. He also noted that a​ requirements to achieve this goal is technology, especially the availability of an efficient and reliable internet service.
Sanwo-Olu therefore stated that it is for this reason that his government placed high premium on the 6000 fiber optic cable, aimed at improving access to functional, efficient and affordable internet service.
He noted that consequence to the available internet, “a number of private initiatives are springing up with huge investments that will deliver high speed and efficient internet service”.
To realize the Smart City dream, the Governor stated that the state has recently re-launched its residents’ card, adding that the new residents card is an upgraded version of the former ordinary plastic to a smart card with embedded features for multipurpose uses in addition to identification purpose.
He added that in June last year, his administration created a seamless payment system for the multimodal transport system with the launch of cowry card, to ensure digitization of key government services, processes and procedures to improve efficiency, accountability and transparency.
The Governor, however commended the management of LASIMRA, for sustaining a cordial relationship between the State government and Nigerian Communications Commission, that the relationship and collaboration have been of great impact to the state, ​ which goes to underscore the need for a good and harmonious cooperation between the Federal and State agencies.
Earlier in her welcome address, the General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote said that the government is committed to drive economic growth, improve the quality of life and keep the state environmentally sustainable of the state through the adoption of technology and data analytics.
She stated that “the Sanwo-Olu’s led government is playing the role of coordinator and funder by bringing different interests and stakeholders together; providing funding for digital infrastructure and demonstrator projects, as well as regulator through Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency”.
She added that the set of initiative seen in some cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubai, Singapore and the likes, which are active in implementing smart city strategies are the building blocks for Lagos State Smart City Project.
In his keynote address, the Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Mr. Adeleke Adewolu stated that the theme of the conference, is very apt since Broadband infrastructure is the backbone of Smart Cities, adding that “it is inevitable that the NCC and LASIMRA must engage and collaborate, but sometimes in disagreement, as Lagos State is clearly the hub of telecoms and technology activities in Nigeria”.
The NCC Commissioner however urged the government to increase internet capacity in the country noting Nigeria still has a huge infrastructure deficit, “for instance, we need over 120,000 additional kilometers of fiber from current figure of less than 60,000 kilometers and about 40,000 additional Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to meet the NNBP targets by year 2025”.
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