The Lagos State Government has said that it has laid over 3,000 kilometres of Fibre Metro Network connection within the year 2020 across the state as part of the comprehensive Smart City Programme aimed at providing a 24-hour driven economy.
Mr. Hakeem Fahm, Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, in the company of Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, announced this on Tuesday, 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 noted that governments at all levels had been directed to adopt e-governance in order to effectively serve the citizens.
He stated that a 3,000 km of Fibre Metro Network connection in the Year 2020 had been installed across the state so far, while an additional 3,000km will be installed this year.
He disclosed further that the implementation of the Smart City Project is to enhance governance, connectivity, and environmental security, saying that the use of technology would make reporting of security, health incidents easy to reach, and promote access to major stakeholders in the government.
Fahm stressed that the project would also incorporate smart technologies into transport infrastructure surveillance and security, healthcare services, education, government services, and developing Lagos through the provision of affordable internet access, thereby, bridging the gap between the people and the government.
“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 involve the installation of a total of 6000km in fibre optic cables that will come in two phases of 3000km each,” he said.
The Commissioner 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 stated that the state government is working to increase public access to the Internet and promote digital literacy.
On the installation of Close Camera Circuit Televisions, (CCTVs), Fahm said “Safeguarding Lagos has gone beyond the ordinary. We have built new data rooms, installed more cameras, and effectively deployed technology in our operations, especially as regards security and traffic management.”
He described the Lagos Smart-City project as a transformation being achieved through technology in order to enhance the ease of 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.
