e-governance, game changer for Development -Lagos commissioner

Governments at all levels must adopt e-governance in order to effectively serve the citizens, so says the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Popoola Fahm.

He stressed that the State Implemented a 3,000km of Fibre Metro Network connection in year 2020 and additional 3,000km in year 2021, across the State, as part of the comprehensive Smart City Programme that seeks to provide a 24-hour driven economy.

The Commissioner disclosed this during the 2021 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Fahm said that the Implementation of Lagos State Smart City Project is to enable governance, connectivity and environmental security, saying that the use of technology would make reporting of security incidents easy to reach, and promote access to major stakeholders in the government.

The Commissioner reiterated that the project will also incorporate smart technologies into transport infrastructure surveillance and security, healthcare services, education, government services and making Lagos to be technological developed through the provision of affordable internet access.

Hence, it will close the gap between the people and the Government.

He explained that the Smart-City project involved "laying fibre optic cables across the state, and building a metro-network where parastatals are connected.

"The unified fibre project is a multi-year project, which will involves the installation of a total of 6000km in fibre optic cables, that will come in two phases of 3000km each," he said.

Fahm noted that the State is installing both fibre cables and the infrastructure (fibre ducts), that other companies can latch on in order to expand their network.

"We plan to connect the fibre optic cables to all our public schools and institutions of learning, health centres, and all government offices and parastatals," he explained.

He said the State Government is working tirelessly to increase public access to the Internet and promote digital literacy.

Speaking on the installation of CCTV Cameras, the Commissioner said: "Safeguarding Lagos has gone beyond the ordinary. We have built new data rooms, install more cameras and effectively deploy technology in our operations, especially as regards to security and traffic management," he briefed.

Fahm said that upon completion, the project will advance Lagos State's economy by becoming a 24/hr driven commercial center, which will allow companies to operate in a safe, secure and smart environment that will create more jobs and increase GDP of the State.

The commissioner described the Lagos Smart-City project as a transformation being achieved through technology, in order to enhance the ease doing business, adding that it involved stationing of security cameras around the state.

Fahm explained that the State is using technology to facilitate integrated policies and services that allow access to a range of public services, and also improve standards of living through online service delivery.

'This comes in various forms, such as tax submission and registration of businesses, reducing the administrative burden on the public and private sectors and improving transparency. E-governance effectively deployed can have significant impact on poverty reduction and increase the efficiency of public institutions," he added.