The Lagos State government and the City of Dubai have
entered a historic partnership that will create the first Smart City in Africa.
The Memorandum of Understanding for the Lagos Smart City was
on Monday signed at the Emirate Towers by the Lagos State Attorney General and
Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Chief Executive Officer of
Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr. Jabber Bin Hafez.
The signing of the MOU, which will make Lagos the home of
the very first Smart City in Africa, was witnessed by the Chairman of Dubai
Holdings, His Excellency, Ahmad Bin Byat who is also the Deputy Prime Minister
and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
A Smart City is a growing concept that draws from the
success of Dubai’s innovative knowledge-based industry clusters ” to empower
business growth for companies and knowledge workers all over the world”.
In a release signed on Tuesday by the Lagos State
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Smart City
(Lagos) is expected to bring multi-billion dollars investments to Lagos, create
several thousands of jobs and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis in particular and
the entire Lagos State in general.
“This is a deliberate attempt by us to establish a strong
convergence between technology, economic development and governance, and ” says
Governor Ambode.
“The MOU between Lagos State Government and Dubai Holdings,
LLC, owners of Smart City (Dubai) to develop a sustainable, smart, globally
connected knowledge-based communities that drive knowledge economy, ” he
stated.
The governor stated that the collaboration is part of the
larger vision to make Lagos safer, cleaner and more prosperous.
He said: ” A smart-city Lagos will be the pride of all
Lagosians just as we have smart city Dubai, Smart-City Malta and Smart-City
Kochi (India). We are encouraged by the fact we do not, as a government, need
to develop at a slow pace, but take full advantage of the digital age and fast
track development of Lagos to a real megalopolis that we can all be proud of.”
The statement quoted Governor Ambode further as saying that
” the future is ours to take. It also marks the first smart city in Africa when
completed.
The governor added that apart from creating jobs for the
people, the project would also become the world’s first carbon neutral city.
“Lagos,” he stated, “will become an important centre for innovations in smart
technologies, wellness and destination for green tourism.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister Bin Byat
said the Dubai authorities were impressed with the conduct and readiness of
Lagos State government and were eager to proceed with the Lagos State
government and the Smart City Lagos company, which is the operating entity for
the project.
When completed, the Smart City Lagos will have, among other
features: a 12-lane road, hotel resorts, world-class technological education
facilities, a rail metroline, to mention but a few.
Ayorinde said the signing ceremony was also witnessed by the
Chairman of Smart City Lagos Ltd, Prof. Pat Utomi; the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass; Chairman,
Public Accounts Committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju
Oshun, Hon. Dipo Famakinwa and Mr. Obafemi Saheed.
2 Comments
Cool
ReplyDeleteAwesome Governor Ambode...........Eko oni baje.
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