The first stage of a project to significantly lower the cost of Internet connectivity was finished, according to a statement released on Monday by the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology (LAMIST).
At the Lagos 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing, the Commissioner of LAMIST, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, said this while outlining the accomplishments of the ministry. During the conference held to mark the start of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office, Alake stated that the state had installed 2700 kilometers of fiber conduit.
Phase II of the project calls for the installation of 3,300 km of uniform fiber ducts throughout the state, but the commissioner added, “We will use the duct to bring down the cost of internet connectivity in the state.”
Alake stated that 450 intelligent cameras and number plate recognition cameras had been installed throughout the state by the administration. “All of these technologies are intended to help with traffic management in Lagos, eliminate guesswork, and guarantee improved city management,” he stated.
The commissioner stated that the most recent accomplishment of the government was the
beginning of a cybersecurity effort to improve and safeguard the infrastructure of the state from online attacks. According to him, the cybersecurity initiative was a component of a larger plan to enhance overall governance and security within the state.
According to Alake, the project is collaborating with top cybersecurity companies and an
Technology would be made available to the state by international organizations and
proficiency. He asserts that giving the state access to technologies and knowledge will
strengthen its ability to protect its technology from complex cyberattacks.
Alake added that the government was constructing a Tier 3 data center in collaboration with the private sector to improve the state’s infrastructure and data capacity and make it easier for citizens to access government services. He claimed that this technology would promote economic and technological growth in addition to increasing government efficiency and service reliability. The technology, he continued, will draw investment and establish Lagos as the center of technology in West Africa. “In 43 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) around the state, we have started sensitization and awareness training for the heads of accounting, procurement, planning, legal officers, and medical directors, among other positions.
Additionally, we have 70 data protection officers working for different MDAs, according to Alake. He emphasized that protecting people’s rights to data privacy was one of the project’s main goals, along with data protection compliance. According to the commissioner, the data compliance initiative would stop personal data manipulation and promote the safe conduct of transactions involving the sharing of personal data.
He emphasized that it would guarantee Nigerian companies maintained their competitiveness in global trade using best practices.
Alake stated that funding for startups and R&D initiatives has been greatly aided by the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), which is a part of LAMIST.
He stated that raising awareness of innovation, administering the research and innovation fund, and enhancing services and the standard of living for inhabitants were among the objectives of the council. To solve regional and global issues, the commissioner continued, the council also promoted cooperation between local and foreign parties.
He claims that LASRIC has awarded over N800 million in grants to support over 50 research initiatives, over 60 tech firms, and more. He went on to say that the country’s most technologically advanced identity ecosystem was the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) Project.
According to Alake, it encouraged financial inclusion because those who registered without a bank account were automatically included. He said that there were over six million registration records on the LASRRA card, making it a one-stop shop. However, the commissioner acknowledged that financing was a significant issue for the ministry in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
