Lagos State government on Thursday said it will leverage on technology and innovation in its quest of becoming a smart city of relevance.
This was as it noted that the main goal of the smart city plan is to optimise city functions and promote economic growth while also improving the quality of life of citizens by using smart technologies and data analysis.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known while speaking at the Opening of the “Out-of-Home” Advertising Conference and Exhibition, 2021 at the Eko Hotels, Victoria-Island, Lagos.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said towards that end, the state government was making appreciable progress in the ongoing laying of optic fibres as well as the installation of smart cameras in strategic locations across the state.
According to him, the two projects are critical to enhancing the ability of businesses; to effectively deploy technology with the aid of a more efficient and stronger internet connectivity within a safe and secure business environment.
“I am happy to inform you that we are making appreciable progress in the ongoing laying of optic fibres as well as the installation of smart cameras in strategic locations across the state. We believe these two projects are critical to enhancing the ability of businesses to effectively deploy technology with the aid of a more efficient and stronger internet connectivity within a safe and secure business environment,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor, who highlighted technology and innovation as the strategies for businesses to thrive, said the state government would continue to create the enabling and regulatory environment.
He said the Smart City plan would have a major impact on all sectors of the state economy and enhance the capacity of private businesses to flourish, create more wealth and employment for young people.
Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos will, by 2030, be a smart city, fully covered by a network of several thousands of kilometres of fibre optics infrastructure that will carry broadband internet into homes, offices and schools and unleash a technology and expand our bandwidth penetration
“The Smart City plan that is unfolding will also be home to a network of intelligent cameras that will support not only security and policing across the state, but also traffic management and data collection for urban planning,” the governor said.
He, however, stated that his administration was moving decisively to address some of the challenges limiting the state as a 21st century economy, urging stakeholders in the marketing and advertising industry in the state to plug into the ongoing broadband architecture that would be the future of Lagos.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, noted that the Outdoor Advertising Sector was currently witnessing unprecedented growth in diverse forms particularly, in the deployment of innovative infrastructure which seemed almost impossible years back.
“We are witnessing monumental changes to the business, huge iconic infrastructures currently delivering value to clients’ brand as well as improving the look and feel of our dear environment,” Bello said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director/CEO, Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency, Prince Adedamola Docemo, emphasized the importance of leveraging technology for outdoor Advertising due to the complications experienced during the COVID-19.
Docemo, while evaluating the effect of the pandemic on the advertising sector, said the implications were grave as the industry suffered on all fronts.
“Even experiential marketing and roadshows were suspended in compliance to the state government’s directive to avoid large gatherings and maintain appropriate social distancing,” he said.
According to him, the conference is being held as a panacea for coming to terms with the challenges occasioned by Covid-19, expressing hope that the forum would “open a robust and comprehensive conversation on how best to navigate a new path for this sector.”
The Managing Director further noted that LASAA had embraced technology in handling its business by adopting the Enterprise Management System, adding that signages and permits can now be applied for online, just as several communication channels are now provided for clients.
The CEO, who stated that LASAA would adopt strategies to monitor compliance from its office, disclosed that automation would drive the process, and further urged stakeholders to reciprocate the government’s gesture that granted three months waiver on permit fees in Year 2020, by also adhering to the laws of the state.
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