Lagos still far from being a Smart City – Akin Oyebode

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode on Wednesday said Lagos as currently situated is far  from being described as a Smart City.

Prof. Oybode spoke while delivering a lecture at the 2018 Public Lecture/Book Presentation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Information Chapel, held at the Combo Hall, Lagos Television, in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Speaking on the topic: “Communicating Development in an Emerging Smart City,” Oyebode admitted that the government of Akinwunmi Ambode was striving to make Lagos a Smart City, but that many things had to be put in place to attain that status.

“Having lived and studied in Kiev, Boston and Toronto, I believe I am in a position to evaluate the on-going efforts toward realization of this laudable intention. A mega-city, metropolis or, in fact, cosmopolis must evince the characteristics of a modern city in terms of infrastructure such as high-rise buildings, efficient transport system like a mass transit underground or metro system, network of buses, trolley buses, taxis, well laid-out lanes for cyclists, sidewalks for pedestrians, well-coordinated traffic lights, etc.

“In short, such a city must meet the standards of living in the 21^st century. Before a mega-city can be transformed into a smart city, there must be abundant evidence of the employment of hi-tech, especially, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and a population sold on digital existence and attitudes as well as ability to navigate their way in the brave new world of contemporary life,” he said.

He added that “in other words, there must be in place a certain level of contentment among the people based on the availability of basic needs and material sustenance so that the ordinary people can more appreciate the benefits of sojourn in the mega-city and smart city. The excesses of a social darwinistic social order would have to be whittled down in order to make living worthwhile and meaningful.”

Oyebode, thus, submitted that “in view of the foregoing, it is simply stating the obvious that Lagos as currently situated is far  from being described as a smart city. Mega-city, yes  but smart city, definitely no, at least, not yet. Of course, its 24-odd million population and claim of being the fifth largest economy in Africa would surely make it a mega-city but transforming it into a smart city is still very much a work in progress.

“Agreed, Rome was not be built in a day and the efforts of the crusaders for the transformation of the mega-city to smart city should be saluted but we have to lower our sights and recognize that a lot of work still needs to be done before we can shout, “Hurray!”

Oyebode added that in an age of the knowledge industry, practitioners of the mass media could hardly be ignored, stressing that any government that intended to score successes in its plans, policies and programmes would be failing in its duty if it did not apprehend the necessity to solicit the support and collaboration of the mass media, especially in relation to a project as gigantic as the socio-economic and political transformation of Lagos from a mega-city to that of a smart city.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said government was putting many things in place towards attaining a Smart City in the future and charged Pubic Affairs Officers to ensure that they disseminated government’s information in such a way that it would be acceptable by the public.

Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by Mrs Yinka Ayandele, Tutor General, Education District I, said the media had played a great role in disseminating government’s information to the public.

Chairman, NUJ, Lagos State Information Chapel, Adewale Akodu said the theme of the Week, which is “Communicating Development in an Emerging Smart City” was quite apt as it fused into the overarching goal of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, through the Lagos Smart City initiative, conceived to extend Dubai Knowledge Cluster Model to create a network of interconnected, self-sustaining, knowledge-based communities that drive knowledge economy.

“In particular, Development communication is a process whereby a deliberate information or communication process is initiated to purposefully inform, engage and inspire a targeted group towards a particular cause of action intended to move a society from a level of development to a higher one. This is why we know that today’s programme would be a great value addition to Lagos as the state takes a giant leap in joining the league of societies that are smart and technology driven,” he stated.