Smart City Initiative is to drive cleaner, safer, productive Lagos—Ambode
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has given more insights on the target of Smart City Initiative (SCI) of the government.
Speaking on the issue recently, he said “Our smart city initiative will help to ensure that the state is cleaner, safer, productive and then more resilient thereby making the state more attractive for Foreign Direct Investment”.
“Upon assumption of office in 2015, our administration created the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment and subsequently launched the N25bn Employment Trust Fund and as at today, over 3000 entrepreneurs have benefited from the fund through access to low-cost credit for their business.
“Lagos State is also actively involved in the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), a body comprising all the South-Western states. We are working on a collaborative development plan, a regional economic integration which will help to minimise some of our current challenges such as high immigration, infrastructure deficit and traffic congestion
The governor stated that with high population growth of 3.2% annually and high immigration rate estimated to be one of the highest in the world and rapid urbanisation, the state government was not oblivious to the fact that the most effective and efficient way to unlock the economic potentials of Lagos was to open up the economy for private enterprise to thrive.
He said part of the plot to deliver SCI informed series of ongoing delivery of first class infrastructure and putting in place right policies to ensure business-friendly environment.
A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna added that ongoing projects in some parts of the state are designed to unlock the tourism, entertainment and arts potentials of Lagos which he said were all critical.
